The Veteran's appeal for increased ratings and TDIU was denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating for his low back disability diagnosed as facet joint arthritis.
The deciding factor: The VA examinations and medical records did not show any additional functional impairment or incapacitating episodes that would warrant a higher rating under the applicable criteria.
- Claimed conditions
- facet joint arthritis
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- September 21, 2015
- Citation
- 1540607
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 1540607.
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: Granted
The Veteran's service-connected lumbosacral spine disability, including spondylosis, lumbar spine degenerative disc disease (DDD), facet joint arthritis, and L4-5 disc bulge, is now rated at 40 percent effective June 11, 2019.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not preclude him from securing and following substantially gainful employment, thus denying his claim for TDIU.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a lumbar spine disability, finding that the evidence did not support a link between her current disabilities and her military service.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's service-connected back disability is rated at 10 percent and the Board finds it too remote in time to serve as evidence of current severity. The claim must be remanded for a new VA examination.
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