The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for his low back and right foot disabilities, finding that the evidence did not support a higher rating under either the pre-amended or amended criteria.
The deciding factor: The VA examinations showed limited motion of the lumbar spine but no ankylosis. The most recent VA examination reflected flexion of 50 degrees (90 is normal), extension of 20 degrees (30 is normal), right and left lateral flexion, at 25 degrees (30 is normal), and right and left lateral rotation, at 25 degrees (30 is normal). The veteran's symptoms did not meet the criteria for a higher rating under either the pre-amended or amended spine regulations.
- Claimed conditions
- degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine with radiculopathy, degenerative joint disease of the right foot
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- July 18, 2007
- Citation
- 0721602
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. Search VA.gov for the original decision (opens in a new tab) using citation 0721602.
What this means for you
A final Board denial may be appealed to the U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims, generally within 120 days of the Board mailing date. A Supplemental Claim with new and relevant evidence is a separate option. Another Higher-Level Review of the Board decision is not available. Check your own notice: this historical decision does not set your deadline.
What you can do next
Use your own notice and decision stage. A remanded issue is not a final court-appealable denial. VA review guidance and CAVC filing instructions (U.S. federal; reviewed October 7, 2026).
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board has denied an initial rating higher than 10 percent for tinnitus. The Veteran's claims for service connection of left ear hearing loss, degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine with radiculopathy, and a cervical spine condition are remanded due to insufficient evidence.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Board denied service connection for various conditions, including bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, erectile dysfunction, benign prostatic hypertrophy, memory disorder, generalized anxiety disorder, major depressive disorder, lumbar spine disability (chronic low back pain), chronic cervical strain, allergic rhinitis, gastrointestinal disabilities, colon diverticulosis, and degenerative joint diseases of multiple joints. The Board found no evidence to support service connection for any of these conditions.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's initial claim for a higher rating for his right foot degenerative joint disease is being remanded due to the need for additional VA clinical records and an examination.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected residuals of a sprain, left big toe and degenerative changes of the left foot, as well as his residuals of a fracture, right big toe with degenerative joint disease of the foot. The Board found that the manifestations did not meet criteria for higher than 10 percent ratings.
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