The veteran's claim for an initial evaluation in excess of 20 percent for mechanical low back pain was denied. The RO granted a 10 percent evaluation effective July 22, 1997, and later increased it to 20 percent effective the same date.
The deciding factor: The VA determined that the veteran's service-connected mechanical low back pain did not warrant an evaluation in excess of 20 percent based on the evidence of record.
- Claimed conditions
- mechanical low back pain
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- February 4, 2005
- Citation
- 0502838
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 999 · Granted: 31% (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 0502838.
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: Granted
The Board granted service connection for mechanical low back pain, musculoskeletal neck and cervical spine, and ear condition (such as earaches) based on the evidence showing that these conditions had their onset during active service with continuity of symptoms to the present.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board remanded all issues to the VA for further examination and documentation. The Veteran's claims are being sent back to the VA for additional evaluations.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The appeal for service connection of mechanical low back pain and congenital fusion of L3-4 is remanded. The Board needs more information to decide if the condition was aggravated by military service.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board remanded the veteran's claims for increased disability ratings for mechanical low back pain and right lower extremity radiculopathy. The Board needs to obtain additional medical records and conduct a VA nerve examination.
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