The Veteran's service-connected lumbar degenerative disc disease with chronic lumbar strain is currently rated at 40 percent, and the evidence does not support a higher rating based on current severity.
The deciding factor: The medical evidence shows that the Veteran has no ankylosis of the thoracolumbar spine, no incapacitating episodes in the past year, and her range of motion is within normal limits for her condition. The symptoms are adequately addressed by the current 40 percent rating.
- Claimed conditions
- lumbar degenerative disc disease at L5-S1 with chronic lumbar strain
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 40%
- Decision date
- December 19, 2013
- Citation
- 1342124
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 1342124.
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 Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and consideration of recent evidence. The issue remains whether she should receive a higher disability rating for her service-connected lumbar degenerative disc disease.
- Remanded (sent back)
The appeal is remanded for a new VA examination to assess the current status of the Veteran's service-connected lumbar degenerative disc disease, including any radiculopathy.
- 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.
- 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.
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