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Denied

The Board found that the veteran's service-connected lumbar spine disability did not warrant a higher rating under any of the criteria in effect during the appeal period, as his forward flexion was within normal limits and he had no unfavorable ankylosis. The veteran's neurologic symptoms were separately rated.

The deciding factor: The veteran's lumbar spine disability caused functional loss that equated to limitation of flexion not worse than 60 degrees, which did not meet the criteria for a higher rating under any applicable diagnostic codes.

Claimed conditions
spondylolysis with first degree spondylolisthesis at L5
How they argued it
Direct service connection
Exposure basis
None
Rating assigned
40%
Decision date
December 11, 2006
Citation
0638395

Veterans Law Judge

MARK F. HALSEY

Decisions by this judge: 1,458 · Granted: 24% (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 0638395.

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