The Veteran's service-connected lumbar spine disability has not been shown to meet the criteria for a higher rating, as it does not result in actual limitation of motion or function loss due to pain.
The deciding factor: The VA examination findings did not show an actual limitation of motion or function loss due to pain that would warrant a higher rating under Diagnostic Code 5242.
- Claimed conditions
- degenerative disc disease at L5/S1
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- December 8, 2010
- Citation
- 1045891
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. Read the original VA decision (opens in a new tab) using citation 1045891.
What this means for you
A final Board denial may be appealed to the U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims, generally within 120 days of the Board mailing date. A Supplemental Claim with new and relevant evidence is a separate option. Another Higher-Level Review of the Board decision is not available. Check your own notice: this historical decision does not set your deadline.
What you can do next
Use your own notice and decision stage. A remanded issue is not a final court-appealable denial. VA review guidance and CAVC filing instructions (U.S. federal; reviewed October 7, 2026).
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's low back disability with bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy, finding that it is at least as likely as not related to his active service.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Board found that the veteran's current low back disorder was not incurred in or aggravated by active service and denied his claim for service connection.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Board denied the veteran's claim for a disability evaluation in excess of 20 percent for his lumbar strain, finding that the current manifestations do not warrant such an increase.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected lumbar myositis, psychoneurosis and conversion hysteria, residuals of shrapnel wounds of the left thigh and pelvis with retained foreign bodies and scars, and residuals of shell fragment wounds of the right thigh and left leg. The veteran was also denied entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities.
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