The VA determined that the veteran's lumbosacral strain with arthritis does not meet or approximate the criteria for a disability rating in excess of 20 percent.
The deciding factor: The medical evidence did not show severe symptoms, such as listing of the whole spine to opposite side, positive Goldthwaite's sign, marked limitation of forward bending, loss of lateral motion with osteo-arthritic changes, or narrowing or irregularity of joint space. The veteran’s disability was rated based on its current severity and limitations.
- Claimed conditions
- lumbosacral strain with degenerative changes
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 20%
- Decision date
- December 29, 2006
- Citation
- 0640098
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 0640098.
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.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the issues of entitlement to increased ratings for lumbosacral strain with degenerative changes, right lower extremity radiculopathy, and left lower extremity radiculopathy due to insufficient evidence.
- Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 20 percent for lumbosacral strain with degenerative changes, as the evidence did not support a higher disability rating.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the case for a new examination to determine the current severity of the Veteran's lumbosacral strain with degenerative changes and to readjudicate the issues on appeal, including review of the evidence added to the claims file since the January 2017 SOC.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his right knee and low back disabilities, as well as his claim for service connection for sleep apnea. The claims are being returned to the RO for further development.
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