The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU were denied. The lumbar spine disability was rated at 40 percent, effective July 26, 2013.
The deciding factor: The medical evidence did not show ankylosis or incapacitating episodes of IVDS that would warrant higher ratings under the General Rating Formula for Diseases and Injuries of the Spine.
- Claimed conditions
- Degenerative disc disease with disc herniation, lumbosacral spine, Lumbar radiculopathy, left lower extremity, Lumbar radiculopathy, right lower extremity
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- November 2, 2015
- Citation
- 1546400
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 1546400.
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: Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection are remanded due to the need for additional development of evidence.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board has determined that new VA medical examinations are required for the Veteran's service-connected lumbar spine, bilateral pes planus, left knee disability, and lower extremity radiculopathy. The issues of increased ratings for these conditions have been remanded.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence regarding the onset and etiology of the Veteran's lumbar, cervical spine, and radiculopathy conditions during his military service.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection are not supported by the evidence of record and have been denied.
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