The Board denied the veteran's claim for an increased rating of his service-connected degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine with spinal stenosis, finding that it did not meet the criteria for a higher rating.
The deciding factor: The medical evidence showed severe degenerative joint disease and spinal stenosis but no symptoms consistent with invertebral disc syndrome or ankylosis of the lumbar spine.
- Claimed conditions
- degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine, spinal stenosis
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 40%
- Decision date
- August 30, 2001
- Citation
- 0121931
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 0121931.
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 remands the claims for service connection for spinal stenosis, peripheral neuropathy, and bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy to correct pre-decisional duty to assist errors.
- Partly granted
The Board granted service connection for GERD, left wrist sprain, right knee strain, and degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine. The claim for an increased rating for generalized anxiety disorder with depressive disorder was denied.
- Granted
The Board granted service connection for lumbar spine degenerative arthritis, degenerative disc disease, lumbosacral strain, and spinal stenosis based on the Veteran's in-service back injury and chronicity of symptoms.
- Partly granted
The Board granted service connection for spinal stenosis and denied service connection for an enlarged prostate, including due to herbicide exposure.
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