The Veteran's claim for an increased disability rating for his service-connected degenerative disc disease L4-L5 was denied. The current evaluation of 40 percent is maintained.
The deciding factor: The VA examination findings did not support a higher evaluation as the range of motion and neurological abnormalities were within the criteria for a 40 percent rating.
- Claimed conditions
- Degenerative disc disease L4-L5
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- February 26, 2013
- Citation
- 1306571
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 1306571.
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 Board has remanded the Veteran's claims due to the need for additional treatment records and VA examinations.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Board denied service connection for degenerative disc disease L4-L5, with spinal stenosis as it did not have its onset in service and is not related to the Veteran's service-connected post-operative pilonidal cyst. The other claims were also denied.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Veteran's lumbar spine disability has been rated at 20 percent since August 2005. The Board finds that a higher rating of 40 percent is warranted for the entire period on appeal due to limited range of motion and pain.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's combined rating for his service-connected disabilities is 60%, which does not meet the schedular requirements for a TDIU. However, due to his employment history and education level, he may be unemployable as a result of his lumbar spine disability on an extraschedular basis.
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