The Board denied a disability rating in excess of 10 percent for lumbosacral strain with spondylolisthesis based on the current evidence.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's condition did not meet the criteria for a higher rating as there was no evidence showing forward flexion between 30 and 60 degrees, muscle spasm or guarding severe enough to result in an abnormal gait or spinal contour.
- Claimed conditions
- lumbosacral strain with spondylolisthesis
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- October 7, 2025
- Citation
- A25086525
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 1,164 · Granted: 31% (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 A25086525.
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 veteran's PTSD with TBI was rated at 100% from August 1, 2022 to March 19, 2023. The veteran also qualifies for special monthly compensation (SMC) based on housebound criteria.
- Whole decision: Partly granted
The veteran's claims for higher ratings for left and right lower extremity radiculopathy were denied. The claim for a higher rating for lumbosacral strain with spondylolisthesis was remanded.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board has determined that the Veteran's diabetes mellitus, type II is not service-connected due to a remand for further examination and opinion. The lumbosacral strain with spondylolisthesis claim must be remanded as VA did not obtain all relevant private treatment records. The left elbow disability claim also requires additional examination.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Veteran's claim for a clothing allowance for menthol/M-salicylate topical cream and capsaicin cream is denied as there is no service-connected skin condition, and the creams do not cause irreparable damage to his outer garments.
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