The veteran's service-connected low back disability is currently rated at 20 percent, and the Board finds that an evaluation in excess of this rating is not warranted.
The deciding factor: The VA examination revealed moderate limitation of motion with no abnormality on forced motion. The examiner determined that the veteran did not have any intervertebral disc syndrome or sciatic neuropathy, and his symptoms were caused by degenerative disc disease at L5-S1 which produced mild low back pain without neurological involvement.
- Claimed conditions
- Low back injury, Degenerative disc disease at L5-S1, Severe degenerative joint disease changes
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 20%
- Decision date
- June 17, 2003
- Citation
- 0313064
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 0313064.
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.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claims for service connection for low back injury, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus to allow for further development of evidence.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for low back injury, groin injury, arthritis (claimed as rib cage injury), and left side nerve damage (claimed as side injury) due to a lack of evidence supporting the claims.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's claims for higher ratings for his service-connected low back and bilateral shoulder disabilities, as well as the extension of a temporary total disability rating due to convalescence following surgery on his lumbar spine, are being remanded due to failure to substantially comply with previous Board instructions.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has decided to remand the case due to a lack of recent VA examination for the Veteran's low back disability, which may affect its severity assessment.
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