The Board has determined that the veteran's lumbosacral spine pain and x-ray evidence of moderate degenerative changes do not warrant a rating higher than the currently assigned 10 percent, as there is no objective evidence to support muscle spasms necessary for a higher evaluation under Diagnostic Code 5295.
The deciding factor: The VA examiner did not find any objective evidence of muscle spasms during the August 2000 examination, which is a critical prerequisite for a 20 percent rating under DC 5295.
- Claimed conditions
- lumbosacral spine pain, x-ray evidence of moderate degenerative changes
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- February 14, 2002
- Citation
- 0201519
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. Search VA.gov for the original decision (opens in a new tab) using citation 0201519.
What this means for you
A grant means the Board allowed the benefit or issue identified in this decision. Review the original order: other issues in the same appeal may have a different outcome, and this decision does not predict another claim.
What you can do next
Use your own notice and decision stage. A remanded issue is not a final court-appealable denial. VA review guidance and CAVC filing instructions (U.S. federal; reviewed October 7, 2026).
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Whole decision: Denied
The veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for an automobile or adaptive equipment grant due to lack of loss of use of a foot or ankylosis of a hip or knee.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Board has denied the veteran's claim for an increased disability rating for traumatic thoracic myelopathy and service connection for lumbosacral spine pain, status post laminectomy. The veteran is currently receiving the maximum schedular rating for his service-connected condition.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected lumbar myositis, psychoneurosis and conversion hysteria, residuals of shrapnel wounds of the left thigh and pelvis with retained foreign bodies and scars, and residuals of shell fragment wounds of the right thigh and left leg. The veteran was also denied entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claim for an initial evaluation in excess of 10 percent for his service-connected coronary artery disease, finding that the evidence did not support a higher rating based on the severity of his condition.
Free starter guide for your own claim
Reading this because you were denied or under-rated? Get the plain-English next steps — your appeal options, the deadline that protects you, and how appeals like yours turn out. One email, no spam.
We will only use this to send the guide. No spam, unsubscribe any time. We never sell your information.
We are not the VA. Veterans’ Rights is an independent resource built for veterans. We are not the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, not part of the government, and not endorsed by any government agency.
This is general information, not legal advice. For advice about your own situation, talk to a VA-accredited representative — many help for free.