The Veteran's lumbar spine disability is rated at 20 percent, and his radiculopathy of the right and left lower extremities are each rated at 10 percent. The claims for increased ratings were denied.,TDIU was also denied due to incarceration in connection with a felony conviction.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's lumbar spine disability did not meet the criteria for higher ratings as it did not result in unfavorable ankylosis or incapacitating episodes of intervertebral disc syndrome. The radiculopathy was rated at the appropriate levels based on severity.,The Veteran is currently incarcerated and thus unable to secure and follow substantially gainful employment due to his felony conviction.
- Claimed conditions
- Degenerative disc disease and arthritic changes of the lumbar spine, Radiculopathy involving the right lower extremity, Radiculopathy involving the left lower extremity
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- September 15, 2015
- Citation
- 1539506
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 1539506.
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 a temporary total disability rating based on the need for convalescence following lumbar spine surgery in 1985 was denied as his claim was not filed within one year of any need for convalescence ending.
- Denied
The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for his degenerative arthritis of the lumbosacral spine and radiculopathy of the right and left lower extremities, finding no evidence to support higher ratings based on the current clinical findings.
- 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.
Free starter guide for your own claim
Reading this because you were denied or under-rated? Get the plain-English next steps — your appeal options, the deadline that protects you, and how appeals like yours turn out. One email, no spam.
We will only use this to send the guide. No spam, unsubscribe any time. We never sell your information.
We are not the VA. Veterans’ Rights is an independent resource built for veterans. We are not the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, not part of the government, and not endorsed by any government agency.
This is general information, not legal advice. For advice about your own situation, talk to a VA-accredited representative — many help for free.