The VA denied a rating in excess of 10 percent for the veteran's service-connected lumbosacral spine strain, finding that his disability did not meet criteria warranting a higher rating based on current medical evidence.
The deciding factor: The VA found no medical evidence prior to September 26, 2003, documenting incapacitating episodes or separately ratable neurological manifestations. Since then, the veteran's range of motion and symptoms have been within normal limits for his disability level.
- Claimed conditions
- lumbosacral spine strain
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 10%
- Decision date
- March 20, 2008
- Citation
- 0809359
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 0809359.
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 service connection for a lumbosacral spine strain with degenerative arthritis, finding that the evidence did not support a link between the current condition and an in-service injury.
- Dismissed
The appeal for a disability rating in excess of 10 percent for lumbosacral spine strain is dismissed. The reduction of the ratings for left and right knee limitations of extension are found to be improper, and the original ratings are restored.
- Dismissed
The Veteran's appeals for increased rating and TDIU have been dismissed as he has withdrawn his appeal.
- Granted
The Veteran's prescribed topical skin medication, triamcinolone cream, caused irreparable damage to his clothing and the Board granted a clothing allowance for 2020 based on this.
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