The VA has determined that the veteran's degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine at L5-S1 does not warrant a higher disability rating, as it does not meet the criteria for an increased evaluation under any applicable diagnostic codes.
The deciding factor: The objective medical evidence did not show chronic neurological manifestations associated with IDS, and the veteran’s range of motion was within normal limits without significant functional loss due to pain or weakness.
- Claimed conditions
- Degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine at L5-S1
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 10%
- Decision date
- March 28, 2006
- Citation
- 0608916
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 1,454 · Granted: 23% (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 0608916.
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's claim for increased ratings for his service-connected degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine at L5-S1 is remanded due to inadequate examination findings and need for a new one.
- Granted
The Veteran's degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine at L5-S1 is now rated at 40 percent from May 4, 2018. His right and left lower extremity radiculopathy are each rated at 30 percent beginning May 4, 2018.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's claim for an initial disability rating in excess of 10 percent for degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine at L5-S1 is being remanded for additional development.
- Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claims for higher ratings for his service-connected cervical and lumbar spine disabilities, finding that they did not meet the criteria for a rating in excess of 10 percent.
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