The Veteran's service-connected low back disability, characterized as lumbar spondylosis with L5 disc bulge and degenerative facet changes, does not meet the criteria for a rating greater than 10 percent under the General Rating Formula for Diseases and Injuries of the Spine.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's forward flexion of the thoracolumbar spine is at least 30 degrees but less than 60 degrees, resulting in a combined range of motion not exceeding 120 degrees. There are no findings of ankylosis or objective neurologic abnormalities.
- Claimed conditions
- Degenerative low back disability
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- June 12, 2015
- Citation
- 1525296
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. Search VA.gov for the original decision (opens in a new tab) using citation 1525296.
What this means for you
A final Board denial may be appealed to the U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims, generally within 120 days of the Board mailing date. A Supplemental Claim with new and relevant evidence is a separate option. Another Higher-Level Review of the Board decision is not available. Check your own notice: this historical decision does not set your deadline.
What you can do next
Use your own notice and decision stage. A remanded issue is not a final court-appealable denial. VA review guidance and CAVC filing instructions (U.S. federal; reviewed October 7, 2026).
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claim for an initial rating in excess of 50 percent for his service-connected psychiatric disability and remanded the issue of entitlement to an initial rating in excess of 40 percent for his service-connected degenerative low back disability.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a degenerative low back disability, finding that there was no credible evidence of an in-service injury or chronic symptoms since service. The Board also found that any current low back disability is not related to his service-connected right foot disability.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Board found that the Veteran's current degenerative low back disability is not related to his service or any service-connected conditions, and thus denied his claim for service connection.
- Whole decision: 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.
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