The Board found that the veteran's lumbar spine disability, characterized as disc disease, is moderate to severe but not pronounced in degree. The RO increased the evaluation assigned the veteran's lumbar spine disability to 40 percent. The Board denied a higher evaluation.
The deciding factor: The veteran's lumbar spine disability was found to be moderate to severe but not pronounced in degree, and did not meet the criteria for a higher evaluation under Diagnostic Code 5293.
- Claimed conditions
- lumbar disc disease
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 40%
- Decision date
- April 25, 2002
- Citation
- 0203826
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 0203826.
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 left knee strain, lumbar disc disease, and cervical spine disability based on evidence supporting an in-service onset of symptoms that have continued to the present.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the Veteran's claims for a higher disability rating for lumbar disc disease due to inadequate medical examinations.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claims for a new VA examination to address deficiencies in the previous examination report and to determine the current severity of the Veteran's lumbar disc disease, as well as its impact on his employability.
- Dismissed
The appeal for service connection for lumbar disc disease was withdrawn by the Veteran before a decision could be made.
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