The Veteran's lumbar spine disorder is currently manifested by spondylolisthesis, with subjective complaints of low back pain; objectively, he had forward flexion of the lumbar spine to 75 degrees (with pain), at worst with no additional loss of motion on repetitive use. There is no evidence of incapacitating episodes.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's lumbar spine disorder does not meet or approximate the criteria for a disability rating greater than 10 percent as it only shows forward flexion of the thoracolumbar spine to 75 degrees with pain, and there are no findings indicating ankylosis or incapacitating episodes.
- Claimed conditions
- pars defect L5 with spondylolisthesis of L5 over S1 and disc space narrowing at L5-S1
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- October 19, 2012
- Citation
- 1236378
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 1236378.
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 remanded to obtain additional medical evidence and a VA examination to determine the current severity of his lumbar spine disorder, including any associated neurological symptoms such as headaches and neuropathy. The Veteran also needs to provide information about all sources of treatment for his back condition since 2007.
- 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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