The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for his degenerative joint disease of the lumbosacral spine and left paracentral disc protrusion, status post fracture, with anterior wedging of the thoracic spine. The RO initially evaluated both conditions as 20 percent disabling under Diagnostic Codes 5293 (for intervertebral disc syndrome) and 5285 (for residuals of vertebral fracture), respectively.
The deciding factor: The evidence did not meet the criteria for a higher evaluation, including severe symptoms compatible with sciatic neuropathy or definite limited motion/muscle spasm in the thoracic spine.
- Claimed conditions
- {"condition_name":"degenerative joint disease of the lumbosacral spine"}, {"condition_name":"left paracentral disc protrusion, status post fracture, with anterior wedging of the thoracic spine"}
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 20%
- Decision date
- October 5, 2006
- Citation
- 0631328
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 0631328.
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
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