The veteran's claim for a higher rating for his service-connected lumbosacral strain with degenerative disc disease was denied. The current evaluation of 20 percent is maintained.
The deciding factor: The medical evidence does not show disability more closely approximating a severe intervertebral disc syndrome (IDS).
- Claimed conditions
- lumbosacral strain with degenerative disc disease (DDD)
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 20%
- Decision date
- December 20, 2000
- Citation
- 0033287
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 0033287.
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.
- Partly granted
The Board denied a rating in excess of 40 percent for lumbosacral strain with degenerative disc disease and granted a 40 percent disability rating for right lower extremity lumbar radiculopathy of the sciatic nerve, while denying all other claims.
- Partly granted
The Board granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) but denied an increased rating in excess of 20 percent for lumbosacral strain with degenerative disc disease.
- Partly granted
The Board granted an effective date of October 26, 2022, for the award of a 50 percent rating for chronic sinusitis and a 40 percent rating for lumbosacral strain with degenerative disc disease (DDD), but denied an earlier effective date for allergic rhinitis.
- Partly granted
The Board denied service connection for right and left hip, knee disorders, and lumbosacral strain with degenerative disc disease (DDD), but granted an effective date of November 27, 2023 for a separate 10 percent rating for right lower extremity radiculopathy.
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