The VA denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for her service-connected lumbar sprain, finding that prior to May 9, 2005, she did not meet the criteria for a disability evaluation in excess of 10 percent. From May 9, 2005, she met the criteria for a 20 percent rating.
The deciding factor: The VA found that the veteran's lumbar sprain prior to May 9, 2005 did not meet the criteria for a disability evaluation in excess of 10 percent. From May 9, 2005, she met the criteria for a 20 percent rating.
- Claimed conditions
- lumbar sprain
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 10%
- Decision date
- February 13, 2006
- Citation
- 0604079
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 1,500 · Granted: 17% (granted or partly granted, in the vetted 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. Look up the original decision on VA.gov (opens in a new tab) using citation 0604079.
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.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran argues that he should have been granted service connection for lumbar sprain and hearing loss as early as 1965 based on his STRs showing these conditions existed in service. The Board finds the RO's failure to adjudicate this CUE claim was an error and remands the matter.
- Granted
The Board granted an earlier effective date of October 2, 2015 for the grant of service connection for lumbar sprain and right lower extremity peripheral neuropathy due to good cause shown for the Veteran's failure to file a Notice of Disagreement within one year of the initial denial.
- Denied
The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for her hip and lumbar sprain conditions, finding that the evidence did not support higher disability ratings.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claims for a lumbar sprain and left lower extremity radiculopathy, femoral nerve to obtain an addendum opinion regarding the severity of these disabilities.
Free starter guide for your own claim
Reading this because you were denied or under-rated? Get the plain-English next steps — your appeal options, the deadline that protects you, and how appeals like yours turn out. One email, no spam.
We will only use this to send the guide. No spam, unsubscribe any time. We never sell your information.
We are not the VA. Veterans’ Rights is an independent resource built for veterans. We are not the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, not part of the government, and not endorsed by any government agency.
This is general information, not legal advice. For advice about your own situation, talk to a VA-accredited representative — many help for free.