The Board denied the veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 20 percent for thoracolumbar spine strain because the evidence did not meet the criteria for a higher rating.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's forward flexion ROM measured no less than 0 to 55 degrees, satisfying the 20 percent rating criteria but not meeting the criteria for a 40 percent or higher rating.
- Claimed conditions
- thoracolumbar spine strain
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- January 8, 2025
- Citation
- A25002160
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 151 · Granted: 25% (granted or partly granted, in the indexed decisions on this site)
Judge attribution: 2025 complete; earlier years partial.
This is a plain-language summary generated by AI from a public Board of Veterans’ Appeals decision. It can contain errors — always verify against the original. Read the original VA decision (opens in a new tab) using citation A25002160.
What this means for you
A final Board denial may be appealed to the U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims, generally within 120 days of the Board mailing date. A Supplemental Claim with new and relevant evidence is a separate option. Another Higher-Level Review of the Board decision is not available. Check your own notice: this historical decision does not set your deadline.
What you can do next
Use your own notice and decision stage. A remanded issue is not a final court-appealable denial. VA review guidance and CAVC filing instructions (U.S. federal; reviewed October 7, 2026).
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Board has granted the Appellant's request to have his military service characterized as honorable, and has also granted service connection for various conditions including unspecified trauma and stressor related disorder with attention deficit-hyperactivity disorder, right ear hearing loss, tinnitus, scars of the left second finger and thumb, thoracolumbar spine strain, bilateral knee strains, and a right foot disorder.
- Whole decision: Dismissed
The appeal of the deferred claim for entitlement to service connection for sinusitis is dismissed. The claims for right hip greater trochanteric, left shoulder impingement syndrome, and thoracolumbar spine strain are remanded.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the case for further development due to lack of substantial compliance with prior remand directives, including an additional medical opinion regarding the ameliorative effects of the Veteran's medication on his thoracolumbar spine strain.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Veteran's right hip strain with limitation of flexion is granted a 40 percent disability rating effective August 1, 2016. The right hip strain with limitation of movement (abduction, adduction, and internal rotation) is granted a 20 percent disability rating effective August 1, 2016.
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