The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased evaluations for his service-connected degenerative joint disease, lumbar spine, with chronic flexopathy of the right lower extremity and right quadriceps atrophy. The initial evaluation assigned was 40 percent.
The deciding factor: The evidence did not meet the criteria for a higher evaluation under either the old or revised rating criteria for intervertebral disc syndrome (IVDS).
- Claimed conditions
- degenerative joint disease, lumbar spine, right quadriceps atrophy
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 40%
- Decision date
- April 3, 2006
- Citation
- 0609615
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.
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The veteran was granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to his service-connected disabilities.
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The Board granted service connection for a lumbar spine disability, diagnosed as degenerative disc disease and degenerative joint disease, intervertebral disc syndrome (IVDS), and lumbosacral strain, based on the Veteran's consistent account of having low back problems since service.
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