The Veteran's low back strain with sciatica is currently evaluated at 20 percent, and the Board found that this evaluation adequately reflects her current disability level.
The deciding factor: The VA examinations conducted did not show any forward flexion of the thoracolumbar spine to less than 30 degrees or favorable ankylosis, which would warrant a higher rating under the General Rating Formula for Diseases and Injuries to the Spine.
- Claimed conditions
- Low back strain with sciatica
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- November 20, 2015
- Citation
- 1549058
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 1549058.
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 is unemployable due to her service-connected major depressive disorder, low back strain with sciatica, right knee retropatellar pain syndrome with arthritis, right hip bursitis, right hip limitation of extension, and right hip limitation of flexion; all of which are a combined rating of 80 percent disabling.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Board found that the veteran's low back disability, manifested by daily pain and limited motion, does not warrant a higher evaluation than the current 40 percent rating.
- Whole decision: 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.
- Whole decision: 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.
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