The Board denied the veteran's claims for an increased rating for his service-connected residuals of a back injury and a temporary total convalescent rating based on surgery in September 2001. The evidence did not support ratings higher than the currently assigned 20 percent rating.
The deciding factor: The VA examination findings, combined with private medical records, showed that the veteran's low back disability more closely approximated the criteria for a 20 percent rating under Diagnostic Code 5295 (lumbosacral strain). The evidence did not support higher ratings based on severe symptoms or intervertebral disc syndrome.
- Claimed conditions
- residuals of a back injury
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- July 10, 2002
- Citation
- 0207497
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 0207497.
What this means for you
A final Board denial may be appealed to the U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims, generally within 120 days of the Board mailing date. A Supplemental Claim with new and relevant evidence is a separate option. Another Higher-Level Review of the Board decision is not available. Check your own notice: this historical decision does not set your deadline.
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 Board denied service connection for residuals of a back injury, head injury, and neck injury as the evidence did not support that these injuries occurred during or while traveling from active duty.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Board denied an initial rating in excess of 20 percent for residuals of a back injury and an effective date earlier than May 26, 2023, for the award of service connection for residuals of a back injury.
- Whole decision: Dismissed
The Board dismissed the Veteran's claims for service connection for migraines and residuals of a back injury due to untimely notice of disagreement.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for residuals of back, head, and neck injuries due to incomplete efforts in obtaining the Veteran's National Guard service records.
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