The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for his lumbar spine disability and duodenal ulcer, finding that the evidence did not support higher ratings.
The deciding factor: The evidence showed that the veteran's lumbar spine disability did not result in ankylosis or vertebral fracture, and his duodenal ulcer did not result in impairment of health manifested by anemia or weight loss or incapacitating episodes.
- Claimed conditions
- degenerative disc disease lumbar spine with bilateral radiculopathy, loss of use of left lower extremity (lumbar spine disability), duodenal ulcer
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- January 8, 2009
- Citation
- 0900854
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.
- Granted
The Board granted a rating of 60 percent from January 27, 2016 to July 7, 2022 for the Veteran's duodenal ulcer, duodenitis, gastritis, and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD).
- Granted
The Board granted a disability rating of 30 percent, but no higher, for the Veteran's service-connected gastritis and duodenal ulcer.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claims for service connection for the Veteran's cause of death and entitlement to DIC benefits due to an inadequate medical opinion regarding the relationship between the Veteran's service-connected conditions and his death.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the case to correct a duty to assist error that occurred prior to the August 2023 rating decision.
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