The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for a 20% disability rating for L4-5 disc protrusion and facet arthrosis (claimed as lower back condition) is denied. The earliest possible effective date would be March 20, 2008, the date of his increased evaluation claim.
The deciding factor: The evidence does not indicate a factually ascertainable increase in severity of L4-5 disc protrusion and facet arthrosis within one year prior to the March 20, 2008 claim for an increased rating.
- Claimed conditions
- L4-5 disc protrusion, facet arthrosis
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 20%
- Decision date
- July 14, 2015
- Citation
- 1530009
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 1530009.
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.
- Denied
The Veteran's claim for an increased disability rating for his back condition, including intervertebral disc syndrome (IVDS) and residuals of lumbar microdiscectomies with degenerative disc disease (DDD), facet arthrosis, and bilateral neural foraminal stenosis, was denied. The Veteran also had service connection granted for PTSD and depressive disorder.
- Granted
The Veteran's lumbar spine condition, diagnosed as facet arthrosis and degenerative arthritis, was incurred in service and is now granted.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence of current severity for the Veteran's lumbar spine disability, and a new VA examination is required.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the Veteran's ulcer and back conditions. The issues of service connection for lumbar spine degenerative disc disease, facet arthrosis, and an ulcer are being addressed.
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