The Veteran's lumbar spine disability, manifested by thoracolumbar spine forward flexion greater than 30 degrees and combined range of motion greater than 120 degrees, does not meet the criteria for a rating in excess of 20 percent.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's lumbar spine disability is currently rated as 20 percent disabling under Diagnostic Code 5243 (rating based on intervertebral disc syndrome) due to forward flexion greater than 60 degrees and combined range of motion not exceeding 120 degrees, which falls within the criteria for a 20 percent rating.
- Claimed conditions
- lumbar spine disability, left S1 radiculopathy
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 20%
- Decision date
- October 17, 2014
- Citation
- 1446226
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 1446226.
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.
- Granted
The Board has granted service connection for a lumbar spine disability, left lower extremity radiculopathy, and right lower extremity radiculopathy as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected lumbar spine disability.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has decided to remand the claims for miscarriage, cervical spine disability, lumbar spine disability, and right elbow disability due to insufficient examination opinions and incomplete service history verification.
- Dismissed
The Board has dismissed the Veteran's claims for service connection for left knee disability, right knee disability, lumbar spine disability, and obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) as these issues have been addressed in a separate docket.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus. Service connection is being remanded for the lumbar spine disability and right knee and calf disabilities.
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