The VA has denied the veteran's claim for an initial rating in excess of 40 percent for his service-connected chronic recurrent low back strain, finding that the evidence does not support a higher rating based on current symptomatology.
The deciding factor: The VA found no evidence of unfavorable ankylosis or pronounced intervertebral disc syndrome, which are necessary for higher ratings under the applicable diagnostic codes.
- Claimed conditions
- chronic recurrent low back strain
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 40%
- Decision date
- March 28, 2006
- Citation
- 0608942
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 1,710 · Granted: 15% (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 0608942.
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.
- Denied
The Veteran's service-connected chronic recurrent low back strain is currently rated at 40 percent, and the Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted.
- Remanded (sent back)
The case is remanded for additional development and adjudication of the issues of entitlement to service connection for lumbar disc disease and a rating in excess of 40 percent for chronic recurrent low back strain.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining all available VA medical records and providing an opinion regarding whether intervertebral disc syndrome or any present neurologic symptoms are related to or have been aggravated by his service-connected chronic recurrent low back strain.
- Denied
The Board found that the veteran's back condition existed prior to service and was not aggravated by service, thus denying his claim for service connection.
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