The Board has determined that the veteran's lumbosacral strain and postoperative residuals of lumbar fusion for spondylosis and spondylolisthesis do not warrant a rating in excess of 40 percent.
The deciding factor: The evidence does not support a higher evaluation as there is no evidence of loss of lateral motion, listing of the whole spine to the opposite side, positive Goldthwaite's sign, marked limitation of forward bending in the standing position, or other findings that would warrant a rating greater than 40 percent.
- Claimed conditions
- lumbosacral strain, postoperative residuals of lumbar fusion for spondylosis and spondylolisthesis
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 40%
- Decision date
- February 12, 2002
- Citation
- 0201440
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 0201440.
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 lumbosacral strain and lumbar radicopathy, right side, secondary to the lumbosacral strain.
- Granted
The Board granted service connection for lumbosacral strain, finding that the Veteran's low back injury occurred during a period of active duty for training (ADT) and continued therefrom.
- Dismissed
The appeals for restoration of ratings and for a higher disability rating were dismissed as the April 2025 rating decision did not make final decisions on these issues.
- Denied
The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection, with the exception of remanding certain issues.
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