The Board denied the veteran's claim for an initial rating in excess of 20 percent for his service-connected degenerative disc disease (DDD) of the lumbosacral spine with limitation of motion, finding that the disability did not meet or approximate criteria for a higher rating based on the evidence of record.
The deciding factor: The veteran's symptoms included pain and limited motion, but did not include severe limitation of motion, severe lumbosacral strain, ankylosis, or radiculopathy. His current disability level was found to be consistent with a 20 percent rating under the revised criteria for evaluating disabilities of the spine.
- Claimed conditions
- degenerative disc disease (DDD) of the lumbosacral spine with limitation of motion
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 20%
- Decision date
- February 2, 2006
- Citation
- 0603093
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
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