The Board found that the veteran's service-connected lumbar spine spondylosis associated with disc space narrowing at L5-S1 does not warrant a rating higher than 10 percent.
The deciding factor: The VA examination did not show any additional limitation of motion or spinal function due to pain, and there was no evidence of painful motion on all movements of the lumbar spine.
- Claimed conditions
- lumbar spine spondylosis, intervertebral disc syndrome
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 10%
- Decision date
- April 10, 2002
- Citation
- 0203260
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 0203260.
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.
- Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 40 percent for lumbosacral strain, finding that the evidence did not support a higher rating based on either incapacitating episodes or unfavorable ankylosis.
- Dismissed
The veteran's appeal for an earlier effective date for service connection back disorder, as due to clear and unmistakable error (CUE), was dismissed because the appeal request was not timely filed.
- Granted
The Board granted service connection for lumbar spine spondylosis as aggravated by the Veteran's service-connected degenerative joint disease of the lumbar spine with degenerative arthritis, and also granted an increased rating of 20 percent for the degenerative joint disease from April 18, 2024.
- Partly granted
The Board denied an effective date prior to November 4, 2009, for the grant of service connection for a back disability and granted service connection for right lower extremity radiculopathy. The claims for initial ratings, secondary service connection, and TDIU were remanded.
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