The Veteran's low back disability was rated at 10 percent prior to January 28, 2013 and at 20 percent since then. The appeal is denied as the disability does not meet or approximate the criteria for a higher rating under the applicable diagnostic codes.
The deciding factor: The medical evidence did not show that the Veteran's low back disability met or approximated the criteria for a higher rating under the General Rating Formula for Diseases and Injuries of the Spine, including the presence of incapacitating episodes as required by the Formula for Rating IDS Based on Incapacitating Episodes.
- Claimed conditions
- Chronic low back strain, Degeneration of the lumbosacral disc
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 20%
- Decision date
- November 15, 2013
- Citation
- 1337352
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. Look up the original decision on VA.gov (opens in a new tab) using citation 1337352.
What this means for you
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What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for chronic low back strain and degenerative arthritis of the left wrist, as well as his claim for TDIU due to service-connected disabilities. The appeals are being remanded for additional examinations and consideration.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the cases for further development due to inconsistencies in prior examinations and insufficient information regarding the Veteran's disability picture.
- Denied
The Veteran's service-connected back and skin disabilities do not render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation, thus his claim for TDIU is denied.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the claims of entitlement to increased ratings for degenerative arthritis of the left wrist and chronic low back strain due to inadequate examination reports that did not address the Veteran's reported flare-ups.
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