The Veteran's service-connected degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine, L4-L5 with grade I listhesis, herniated lumbar disc at L5-S1 is not shown to be more disabling than currently rated under the applicable criteria.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's range of motion was within the parameters for a 20 percent rating and there were no findings that would warrant a higher rating under other diagnostic codes or due to pain on movement.
- Claimed conditions
- degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine, L4-L5 with grade I listhesis, herniated lumbar disc at L5-S1
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 20%
- Decision date
- February 10, 2009
- Citation
- 0904775
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.
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- Dismissed
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- Granted
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- Partly granted
The Board granted service connection for tinea capitis, hypertension, and degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine but denied service connection for sinusitis and urinary tract infections. The claims for PTSD, hearing loss, chest pain, right hip condition, left hip condition, and right knee condition were remanded.
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