The Board denied the veteran's claim for an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for his lumbar strain with degenerative disc disease and also denied his request for an earlier effective date. The veteran's service connection was granted based on direct evidence, not a presumption or secondary condition.
The deciding factor: The RO evaluated the veteran's disability under the appropriate diagnostic codes without considering the potential applicability of Diagnostic Code 5293 due to the revised criteria that were in effect during the pendency of this appeal. The Board found no evidence of an earlier effective date and denied both issues.
- Claimed conditions
- lumbar strain with degenerative disc disease
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- May 10, 2004
- Citation
- 0412116
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 0412116.
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.
- Partly granted
The Board granted a 20 percent rating for the lumbar spine disorder from May 29, 2019, and denied special monthly compensation based on the need for aid and attendance.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claims for lumbar spine disability, prolapse of rectum, and hemorrhoids for additional development before a decision can be made.
- Remanded (sent back)
The appeal is remanded to obtain additional medical opinions regarding the lumbar spine disorder and to address the need for aid and attendance.
- Partly granted
The Board granted ratings for several knee and back conditions, including a 10 percent rating for left knee instability from June 12, 2006, to May 31, 2023, and a 20 percent rating for right sciatic radiculopathy and left sciatic radiculopathy starting January 28, 2025.
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