The Board has determined that the Veteran's lumbar spine disability does not warrant a rating in excess of 10 percent, as his symptoms do not meet or approximate the criteria for a higher evaluation under the applicable diagnostic codes.
The deciding factor: The Veteran’s lumbar spine disability is manifested by limitation of motion and pain, but does not result in forward flexion of the thoracolumbar spine of 60 degrees or less, combined range of motion of the thoracolumbar spine of 120 degrees or less, muscle spasm or guarding severe enough to result in an abnormal gait or spinal contour.
- Claimed conditions
- lumbar muscle strain, left sciatica
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 10%
- Decision date
- June 9, 2014
- Citation
- 1426004
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 1426004.
What this means for you
A denial is a starting point, not the end of the road. You can see why this claim fell short — and, if you are still inside the one-year window, the appeal lanes that may remain open to you.
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 service connection for bilateral hearing loss, left sciatica, and left upper extremity radiculopathy due to duty-to-assist errors prior to the February 2025 decision on appeal. The issues are inextricably intertwined with his pending back and neck disabilities.
- Denied
The Board denied the veteran's claims for higher ratings for his service-connected left and right sciatica, finding that the evidence supported a rating of 10 percent but not more.
- Partly granted
The Board granted service connection for right hip arthritis and a TDIU as of June 8, 2020, while denying increased ratings for sciatica, left hip arthritis, and bilateral hearing loss.
- Granted
The Board granted service connection for left sciatica and degenerative arthritis of the left knee, as both conditions were found to be caused by service-connected disabilities.
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