The Veteran's lumbar spine disability, characterized by DDD at L4-5, has been productive of pain and limited motion but no ankylosis. The current rating of 20% is the highest available under the General Rating Formula for Diseases and Injuries of the Spine.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's lumbar spine disability does not meet or approximate the criteria for a higher rating as it has not been shown to result in forward flexion limited to 30 degrees or less, unfavorable ankylosis, or incapacitating episodes having a total duration of at least 6 weeks during the past 12 months.
- Claimed conditions
- Degenerative Disc Disease (DDD) at L4-5
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 20%
- Decision date
- December 4, 2015
- Citation
- 1550889
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 1550889.
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.
- Granted
The veteran's DDD at L4-5 is productive of muscle spasm, bilateral absent ankle jerk, radicular syndrome and severe pain. The Board finds that the medical evidence supports a 60 percent rating for this condition.
- Granted
The veteran's DDD at L4-5 with right hip pain is granted a 60 percent evaluation effective February 26, 1998 and increased to 40 percent effective February 19, 1999.
- 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.