The Board denied an increased rating for the Veteran's lumbar spine disability, maintaining a 20% rating from October 27, 2015 to October 17, 2020.
The deciding factor: The decision was based on the lack of evidence showing forward flexion of 30 degrees or less or ankylosis during the period in question.
- Claimed conditions
- lumbosacral strain with intervertebral disc syndrome
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 20%
- Decision date
- January 27, 2025
- Citation
- A25006990
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 896 · Granted: 51% (granted or partly granted, in the vetted 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. Look up the original decision on VA.gov (opens in a new tab) using citation A25006990.
What this means for you
A denial is a starting point, not the end of the road. You can see why this claim fell short — and, if you are still inside the one-year window, the appeal lanes that may remain open to you.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has withdrawn the appeal for an increased evaluation for lumbosacral strain with intervertebral disc syndrome and has remanded the issue of service connection for obstructive sleep apnea.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim for service connection for erectile dysfunction (ED) as secondary to his service-connected lumbosacral strain with intervertebral disc syndrome due to a pre-decisional duty to assist error. The AOJ will consider any additional evidence when readjudicating the claim.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the claims for a higher rating for lumbosacral strain with intervertebral disc syndrome, bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy, and left lower extremity radiculopathy due to procedural errors in obtaining private medical records.
- Dismissed
The Board dismissed the appeals for increased disability ratings for lumbosacral strain with intervertebral disc syndrome and left lower extremity radiculopathy involving the femoral nerve.
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