The Board denied the veteran's claim for a higher rating for his service-connected lumbosacral strain, with disc disease and degenerative arthritis. The RO had previously granted service connection and assigned a 10 percent initial rating in April 1998, which was increased to 20 percent in October 1998, and finally to 40 percent in December 1998. The Board found that the veteran's disability did not warrant an evaluation higher than 40 percent under the applicable criteria.
The deciding factor: The veteran's service-connected lumbosacral strain with disc disease and degenerative arthritis was evaluated as 40 percent disabling, which is the maximum rating available for this condition based on limitation of motion. The Board determined that the evidence did not support a higher evaluation under any other criteria.
- Claimed conditions
- lumbosacral strain, disc disease, degenerative arthritis
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 40%
- Decision date
- February 10, 2006
- Citation
- 0604014
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.
- Granted
The Board granted service connection for lumbosacral strain, finding that the Veteran's low back injury occurred during a period of active duty for training (ADT) and continued therefrom.
- Partly granted
The Board granted a 20 percent rating for right leg sciatica with radiculopathy pain and paresthesia, but denied increased ratings for PTSD, lumbosacral strain, left wrist limitation of motion with ganglion cyst, and service connection for headaches, unspecified. Several issues were remanded.
- Dismissed
The appeals for restoration of ratings and for a higher disability rating were dismissed as the April 2025 rating decision did not make final decisions on these issues.
- Partly granted
The Board denied a disability rating greater than 10 percent for tinnitus and a rating greater than 20 percent for lumbosacral strain, but granted a 20 percent rating for left lower extremity sciatic radiculopathy and right lower extremity sciatic radiculopathy.
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