The Board found that the veteran's lumbar spine disability, characterized as arthritis of the lumbar spine, L4-5 with sacroiliitis, did not warrant a rating in excess of 20 percent from November 23, 1997 to August 1998.
The deciding factor: The medical evidence did not show any intervertebral disc syndrome or severe lumbosacral strain that would support a higher rating under the applicable diagnostic codes.
- Claimed conditions
- arthritis of the lumbar spine, L4-5, sacroiliitis
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 20%
- Decision date
- November 13, 2001
- Citation
- 0126317
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 0126317.
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.
- Granted
The Board granted service connection for multiple conditions, including a back condition, sacroiliitis, and degenerative arthritis in various joints.
- Granted
The Veteran was granted a 40 percent rating for her sacroiliitis, effective November 23, 2010, and service connection for right and left lower extremity radiculopathy of the sciatic nerve as secondary to her service-connected sacroiliitis.
- Granted
The Board granted service connection for a low back disability and a cervical spine disability, finding that the evidence was in equipoise regarding their incurrence during active duty.
- Dismissed
The Board dismissed the appeals for service connection of various conditions as they were premature, and denied service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II and a migraine headache disability.
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