The VA has denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected chronic low back strain with osteoarthritis and left S1 radiculopathy, finding that the evidence does not meet the criteria for a higher rating under the applicable diagnostic codes.
The deciding factor: The medical evidence shows some limitation of motion but no ankylosis or other disabling conditions that would warrant a higher rating. The veteran's symptoms do not result in favorable ankylosis of the entire thoracolumbar spine, which is required for a 40% rating under Diagnostic Code 8520.
- Claimed conditions
- Chronic Low Back Strain with Osteoarthritis, Left S1 Radiculopathy
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 20%
- Decision date
- July 28, 2008
- Citation
- 0825155
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 0825155.
What this means for you
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Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Denied
The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not prevent him from securing and following substantially gainful employment.
- Granted
The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 100 percent since October 30, 2007. His residuals of deviated septum do not meet the criteria for a compensable rating. The Veteran's lumbar spine disability and left S1 radiculopathy are both currently rated as 20 percent disabling.
- Granted
The Veteran's degenerative disc disease L5-S1 was granted a 40 percent rating from May 17, 2011. He also received separate ratings for left S1 radiculopathy.
- Granted
The Board granted the veteran's claims for increased ratings for his low back strain with degenerative changes and left S1 radiculopathy, but denied his claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities. The effective date of compensation for left S1 radiculopathy was not addressed as it pertained to an earlier effective date issue.
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