The Veteran's low back disability and radiculopathy of the bilateral lower extremities have been evaluated based on their current manifestations. The claim for increased ratings is denied as the evidence does not show that the disabilities warrant a higher rating at any point.
The deciding factor: The evidence shows that the Veteran's low back disability has resulted in ankylosis, which precludes motion and warrants a 40 percent evaluation from March 7, 2013. The radiculopathy of both lower extremities is currently manifested by severe symptoms but does not meet the criteria for higher ratings.
- Claimed conditions
- Low back disability, Radiculopathy of the right lower extremity, Radiculopathy of the left lower extremity
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 40%
- Decision date
- September 28, 2015
- Citation
- 1541885
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 1541885.
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 Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a low back disability and an increased rating for his acquired psychiatric disorder. The Board found that there was no evidence linking the current disabilities to military service.
- Denied
The Board denied extraschedular ratings for the Veteran's service-connected lumbar spine and lower extremity radiculopathy disabilities, as well as a total disability rating based on individual unemployability prior to February 3, 2011.
- Denied
The Veteran's service-connected low back disability alone does not prevent him from securing and following a substantially gainful occupation.
- Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a low back disability and bilateral hip disability, finding that there was no evidence linking these conditions to his military service.
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