The veteran's service-connected conditions do not render him unable to obtain and retain substantially gainful employment.
The deciding factor: The VA examinations indicated that the veteran is capable of engaging in non-physically demanding types of work, or work with moderate amounts of physical activity.
- Claimed conditions
- degenerative disc disease, lumbar spine with mild left foot drop, spinal stenosis and right lower extremity radiculopathy, degenerative disc disease, cervical spine with radiculopathy to the left upper extremity, Type II diabetes associated with herbicide exposure
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 80%
- Decision date
- February 10, 2003
- Citation
- 0302473
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 0302473.
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 a 40 percent disability rating for the Veteran's lumbar spine disability since September 26, 2024.
- Dismissed
The appeal to reopen the previous denial of service connection for lumbosacral strain is dismissed as the benefit sought has been fully granted.
- Granted
The Board granted service connection for lumbar spine degenerative arthritis, degenerative disc disease, lumbosacral strain, and spinal stenosis based on the Veteran's in-service back injury and chronicity of symptoms.
- Granted
The Board granted service connection for lumbosacral strain and degenerative disc disease, finding that the evidence is at least equally balanced in favor of a relationship to an in-service motor vehicle accident.
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.