The Veteran's low back disability is currently rated at 60 percent, effective October 15, 2012. The Board found that the current rating does not meet or approximate the criteria for a higher rating.
The deciding factor: The VA examination results showed forward flexion of the thoracolumbar spine to be 45 degrees with pain at 45 degrees and extension limited to 10 degrees with pain at 10 degrees, resulting in a combined range of motion total of 115 degrees. The Veteran also had functional loss due to less movement than normal, weakened movement, excess fatigability, pain on movement, disturbance of locomotion, and interference with sitting, standing, and weight-bearing.
- Claimed conditions
- spondylolysis at L5-S1, spondylolisthesis, L5-S1 bilaterally
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 60%
- Decision date
- September 17, 2014
- Citation
- 1441510
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 1441510.
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 Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU are being remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations and development of records.
- Denied
The Board denied an effective date earlier than June 21, 1994 for the grant of service connection for spondylolysis at L5-S1 due to a factual error in receiving a claim for increased rating before any application to reopen the previously denied low back disorder.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran is requesting a revision of the November 6, 2002 Board decision that denied an earlier effective date for service connection for spondylolysis at L5-S1 on grounds of clear and unmistakable error (CUE).
- Denied
The Veteran's service-connected spondylolysis at L5-S1 is currently rated as 20 percent disabling since September 23, 1999. The Board found that the evidence does not support a higher rating for any period.
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