The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased disability evaluations for his service-connected degenerative joint and disc disease of the lumbar spine and cervical spine, finding that the evidence did not meet the criteria for a higher evaluation.
The deciding factor: The VA examinations showed mild to moderate symptoms without recurrent attacks or severe impairment, which did not warrant a higher rating under the applicable diagnostic codes.
- Claimed conditions
- Degenerative joint and disc disease of the lumbosacral spine, Degenerative joint and disc disease of the cervical spine
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- June 13, 2000
- Citation
- 0015502
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 0015502.
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.
- Denied
The Board denied a disability rating in excess of 20 percent for the Veteran's back disability, characterized as degenerative joint and disc disease of the lumbosacral spine.
- Denied
The Veteran's service-connected cervical spine disability and right upper extremity radiculopathy did not prevent him from obtaining or maintaining substantially gainful employment prior to July 21, 2015.
- Denied
The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities have not precluded him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation, thus denying his claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU).
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's radiculopathy of the right lower extremity is currently rated at 10 percent, but a higher rating is not warranted.,The Veteran's degenerative joint and disc disease of the cervical spine is currently rated at 10 percent, and no higher rating is warranted.,The Veteran's degenerative joint disease of the lumbar spine is currently rated at 10 percent, and no higher rating is warranted.
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