The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for his service-connected back disability is denied as the examiner did not provide a clear assessment of the severity and functional impact of his condition.
The deciding factor: The VA examiner failed to adequately assess the Veteran’s current level of disability due to flare-ups and other functional limitations, which are critical factors in determining appropriate ratings under VA guidelines.
- Claimed conditions
- lumbosacral strain with degenerative spondylosis and spurring
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 40%
- Decision date
- April 3, 2015
- Citation
- 1514509
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 1514509.
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.
- Dismissed
The Veteran requested to withdraw his appeal regarding the issue of entitlement to a rating in excess of 40 percent for lumbosacral strain with degenerative spondylosis and spurring. As a result, the Board dismissed this appeal.
- 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.
- Denied
The Veteran's service-connected musculoligamentous strain, right knee, is currently rated at 10 percent and the Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted.
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