The VA determined that the veteran's mechanical low back pain does not meet the criteria for a higher initial evaluation than 20 percent.
The deciding factor: The medical evidence did not show severe lumbosacral strain or ankylosis, which are required for higher ratings under the old and new rating criteria.
- Claimed conditions
- Mechanical low back pain
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 20%
- Decision date
- June 15, 2006
- Citation
- 0617538
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 0617538.
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 Board denied an increased disability rating in excess of 20 percent for the service-connected back disability and an initial disability rating in excess of 10 percent for the right lower extremity radiculopathy.
- Denied
The Veteran's service-connected disabilities alone did not prevent him from securing or maintaining substantially gainful employment prior to December 11, 2009. The Board denied the claim for TDIU on both schedular and extraschedular grounds.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's claim for service connection of a mechanical low back disability is reopened. The Board finds additional development necessary due to the possibility of worsening knee disabilities and new onset of lower back pain.
- Granted
The Veteran is unable to secure or maintain substantially gainful employment due to his service-connected disabilities, and the Board has granted a TDIU for the period prior to November 13, 2015.
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