The Veteran's lumbosacral strain with degenerative joint disease and degenerative disc disease has been rated at 20 percent, but does not meet the criteria for a higher rating based on the current evidence of record.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's disability does not meet or approximate the criteria for a higher evaluation under any applicable diagnostic code.
- Claimed conditions
- lumbosacral strain with degenerative joint disease and degenerative disc disease
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- April 22, 2013
- Citation
- 1313380
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 1313380.
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 for increased evaluations and service connection due to potential worsening of his bilateral knee condition, PTSD, lumbosacral spine disability, and TDIU. The Veteran is also required to provide VA with any outstanding treatment records from the Prescott VA and Phoenix VA.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Veteran's service-connected disabilities meet the schedular requirement for a TDIU and are reasonably shown to render him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation since October 16, 2012.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Veteran's lumbosacral strain with degenerative joint disease and degenerative disc disease was initially rated at 20 percent prior to June 13, 2012. The rating has since been increased to 40 percent as of that date.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Veteran's claims for higher initial ratings were denied across multiple conditions, with the Board finding that the evidence did not meet the criteria for a rating in excess of 10 percent.
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