The Veteran's service-connected degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine with arthritis, status post lumbar laminectomy, is currently rated at 40 percent and does not meet criteria for a higher rating. The Veteran's L-4 radiculopathy of the left and right lower extremities are each rated at 10 percent.
The deciding factor: The evidence does not support an increase in disability ratings as there is no indication of unfavorable ankylosis or incapacitating episodes meeting the criteria for a higher rating under Diagnostic Codes 5243 (General Formula) or 8524 (Neuritis and Neuralgia of the Internal Popliteal Nerve).
- Claimed conditions
- Degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine with arthritis, status post lumbar laminectomy, L-4 radiculopathy of the left lower extremity, L-4 radiculopathy of the right lower extremity
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- May 29, 2012
- Citation
- 1218880
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 1218880.
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: Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain a new VA examination and additional medical records, as the current evidence does not reflect his current state of disability.
- 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.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claim for an initial evaluation in excess of 10 percent for his service-connected coronary artery disease, finding that the evidence did not support a higher rating based on the severity of his condition.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Veteran's service-connected musculoligamentous strain, right knee, is currently rated at 10 percent and the Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted.
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