The Board has determined that the veteran's lumbar scoliosis with degenerative changes does not warrant a rating higher than 20 percent, as his range of motion is within normal limits and he does not have ankylosis or other severe functional impairment.
The deciding factor: The veteran's back disability did not meet the criteria for a higher rating under any applicable diagnostic codes due to the lack of evidence of severe limitation of motion or ankylosis.
- Claimed conditions
- lumbar scoliosis with degenerative changes
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- April 11, 2005
- Citation
- 0510315
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 0510315.
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 case due to insufficient evidence regarding the etiology of the Veteran's lumbar spine disability. Additional VA examination and treatment records are needed.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for his lumbar scoliosis with degenerative changes and cervical spine degenerative changes, as the evidence did not show severe intervertebral disc syndrome or ankylosis.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The veteran's increased rating claims for lumbar scoliosis with degenerative changes and cervical spine disorders are being remanded. Additionally, the service connection claims for left hearing loss and tinnitus are also being remanded.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected lumbar myositis, psychoneurosis and conversion hysteria, residuals of shrapnel wounds of the left thigh and pelvis with retained foreign bodies and scars, and residuals of shell fragment wounds of the right thigh and left leg. The veteran was also denied entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities.
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