The VA has determined that the veteran's mechanical low back pain with degenerative disc disease does not warrant a rating higher than 20 percent.
The deciding factor: The evidence did not support findings of severe limitation or intervertebral disc syndrome, which would justify a higher evaluation.
- Claimed conditions
- Mechanical low back pain with degenerative disc disease
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- April 14, 2003
- Citation
- 0307121
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 464 · Granted: 21% (granted or partly granted, in the indexed decisions on this site)
Judge attribution: 2025 complete; earlier years partial.
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 0307121.
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: Dismissed
The Veteran withdrew his appeals regarding the initial rating for mechanical low back pain with degenerative disc disease and the claim for a TDIU prior to the Board's decision.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Veteran's service-connected knee disabilities have been granted increased ratings, effective June 12, 2013. His right and left knee disabilities are now rated at 20 percent each.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Veteran's mechanical low back pain with degenerative disc disease is manifested by pain, limitation of motion, and arthritis; it does not meet the criteria for a disability rating in excess of 40 percent.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Board has determined that the veteran's low back disability warrants a rating of 40 percent, effective September 23, 2002. The claim for an earlier effective date is denied.
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