The Veteran's service-connected low back disability is rated at 40 percent, and the Board finds that an evaluation in excess of this rating is not warranted based on the evidence.
The deciding factor: The Veteran’s low back disability does not demonstrate more than severe limitation of motion or unfavorable ankylosis, which are required for a higher evaluation under the applicable diagnostic codes.
- Claimed conditions
- low back injury with degenerative changes
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- January 24, 2011
- Citation
- 1103024
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 1103024.
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 Veteran's service-connected low back injury with degenerative changes and left lower extremity radiculopathy rendered him unable to obtain or maintain substantially gainful employment, leading to a grant of TDIU on an extraschedular basis.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to inadequate medical evidence for a fully informed decision regarding his claim of entitlement to an increased disability rating for his service-connected low back injury with degenerative changes.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's claims for service connection and initial evaluation of his right knee disability, bilateral hearing loss, and respiratory disorder are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional VA examinations, treatment records retrieval, and review of his claims file. The issues include a request for an increased disability rating for his service-connected low back injury with degenerative changes and a claim for TDIU.
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