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Denied

The Board finds that the veteran's disability is most appropriately evaluated as lumbosacral strain under Code 5295, and no higher rating can be granted based on the evidence provided.

The deciding factor: The medical evidence does not reflect absent knee or ankle reflexes or other neurological indicia of sciatic neuropathy or radiculopathy. Considering all the manifestations of the low back disability, the Board finds that the disability is most appropriately evaluated as lumbosacral strain under Code 5295.

Claimed conditions
lumbosacral strain, degenerative disc disease (DDD), degenerative joint disease (DJD)
How they argued it
Direct service connection
Exposure basis
None
Rating assigned
40%
Decision date
August 25, 2000
Citation
0022608

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 0022608.

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