The veteran's initial, noncompensable rating for lumbosacral strain with DDD was upheld as the evidence did not support a compensable rating.
The deciding factor: The veteran's condition did not meet the criteria for a compensable rating due to insufficient limitation of motion and lack of additional neurological manifestations or incapacitating episodes.
- Claimed conditions
- lumbosacral strain with degenerative disc disease (DDD)
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- January 5, 2009
- Citation
- 0900244
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.
- Partly granted
The Board denied a rating in excess of 40 percent for lumbosacral strain with degenerative disc disease and granted a 40 percent disability rating for right lower extremity lumbar radiculopathy of the sciatic nerve, while denying all other claims.
- Partly granted
The Board granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) but denied an increased rating in excess of 20 percent for lumbosacral strain with degenerative disc disease.
- Partly granted
The Board granted an effective date of October 26, 2022, for the award of a 50 percent rating for chronic sinusitis and a 40 percent rating for lumbosacral strain with degenerative disc disease (DDD), but denied an earlier effective date for allergic rhinitis.
- Partly granted
The Board denied service connection for right and left hip, knee disorders, and lumbosacral strain with degenerative disc disease (DDD), but granted an effective date of November 27, 2023 for a separate 10 percent rating for right lower extremity radiculopathy.
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