The Veteran's lumbar spine disability is manifested by DDD, minor spondylosis, limited motion, to include forward flexion limited no worse than 70 degrees, pain, guarding, tenderness, and moderate disc protrusion causing radicular pain down the left lower extremity. The criteria for an increased rating greater than 10 percent have not been met.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's lumbar spine disability is manifested by DDD with forward flexion limited to 85 degrees, extension limited to 25 degrees, and combined thoracolumbar spine motion limited to 220 degrees. These findings do not meet the criteria for a rating greater than 10 percent under any applicable diagnostic codes.
- Claimed conditions
- Degenerative Disc Disease (DDD) of the lumbar spine
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 10%
- Decision date
- June 16, 2010
- Citation
- 1022419
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 1022419.
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 the veteran's claims for a higher rating for degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine and an earlier effective date for total disability based on individual unemployability.
- Denied
The Board denied an effective date prior to January 10, 2024, for the grant of service connection for degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine.
- Denied
The Board denied the claim for increased rating for degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine, both prior to and from December 2, 2019.
- Granted
The Board granted an initial disability rating of 40 percent for degenerative disc disease (DDD) of the lumbar spine.
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