The Board denied an increased evaluation for the veteran's service-connected degenerative disc disease with facet hypertrophy, finding that the evidence did not meet the criteria for a higher rating prior to July 22, 2003 and from July 22, 2003.
The deciding factor: The Board found that the veteran's lumbar disability was manifested by pain, moderate limitation of motion, osteo-arthritis of the apophyseal joints, paravertebral muscle spasm, facet and ligamentum flavum hypertrophy, minimal to mild stenosis prior to July 22, 2003. From July 22, 2003, his disability was manifested by pain, severe limitation of motion, paralumbar muscle spasm, and straightening of the normal lordotic curve.
- Claimed conditions
- Degenerative disc disease, Facet hypertrophy
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 40%
- Decision date
- February 16, 2005
- Citation
- 0504153
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 0504153.
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.
- Denied
The appeal for an increased rating for left hip, the claims for entitlement to an earlier effective date and an increased rating for right knee strain, and the appeal for an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for left shoulder strain were dismissed. The claim for a 40 percent rating from June 24, 2021 for degenerative disc disease was granted.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claim for a lumbar spine disability as secondary to a cervical spine disability due to an inadequate medical opinion.
- Partly granted
The Board granted a higher initial rating of 40 percent for degenerative arthritis, degenerative disc disease, lumbosacral strain, and scoliosis, but remanded the other issues.
- Granted
The Board granted service connection for degenerative disc disease, effective November 21, 2022.
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