The VA has denied the appellant's claim for an increased evaluation for his service-connected back injury with low back pain due to degenerative changes and disc space narrowing at L5-S1, as there is no evidence of more than severe limitation of motion or other compensable symptoms.
The deciding factor: The VA found that the appellant's disability does not meet the criteria for a higher evaluation under either the old or new rating criteria for spine disabilities.
- Claimed conditions
- Degenerative Changes, Disc Space Narrowing
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- March 16, 2006
- Citation
- 0607571
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 2,480 · Granted: 26% (granted or partly granted, in the indexed 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. Search VA.gov for the original decision (opens in a new tab) using citation 0607571.
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 Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including a new examination of his right knee disability.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's right ankle strain with degenerative changes did not result in dorsiflexion of less than 15 degrees or plantar flexion of less than 30 degrees, nor did it cause incapacitating exacerbations. As a result, his claim for a disability rating in excess of 10 percent was denied.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Veteran's right ankle strain due to degenerative changes with calcaneal spur is now rated at 20 percent effective September 2, 2021. His left knee osteoarthritis with instability has been granted a separate 10 percent rating from September 2, 2021.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Board denied an increased rating for the Veteran's left wrist condition, finding that the disability does not present such an exceptional or unusual picture as to render impractical the application of the regular schedular standards.
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