The Board denied the claim for an increased rating for service-connected mechanical low back pain with degenerative disc disease, currently evaluated at 40 percent.
The deciding factor: The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher evaluation based on the current criteria and regulations in effect at the time of the decision.
- 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
- January 22, 2004
- Citation
- 0402317
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 244 · Granted: 30% (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 0402317.
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: Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the issue of special monthly compensation (SMC) based on the need for aid and attendance or being housebound due to service-connected disabilities. The Veteran needs assistance with daily activities, but a VA examination is required to determine if this need is solely due to her service-connected conditions.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and development of medical records.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Veteran's low back disability was found to not warrant a rating higher than 10 percent prior to July 26, 2007 and 20 percent from that date forward.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The veteran's claim for an increased evaluation for his service-connected low back disability is being remanded to the RO for further development, including a new VA examination.
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