The Board has vacated the June 2016 decision addressing increased ratings for back injury with degenerative disc disease and left sciatic radiculopathy due to an incorrect representation. The Veteran's lumbar spine disability does not meet criteria for a higher rating as it does not approximate unfavorable ankylosis of the entire thoracolumbar spine or entire spine, nor do his left lower extremity symptoms warrant a higher rating.
The deciding factor: The Veteran’s lumbar spine disability did not result in unfavorable ankylosis and his left sciatic radiculopathy had mild symptoms that did not meet criteria for a higher rating under the applicable diagnostic codes.
- Claimed conditions
- Degenerative Joint Disease in the Lumbar Spine, Left Sciatic Radiculopathy
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- August 19, 2016
- Citation
- 1633100
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 1633100.
What this means for you
A partial grant means some issues were granted while others were denied or remanded — common in multi-issue claims. Look at which issues went which way, and how each was argued.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for chronic fatigue syndrome, bilateral hearing loss, and left sciatic radiculopathy as the evidence of record did not support a finding that these conditions were incurred in or caused by active military service. The issues related to pain of lumbar spine, left foot condition (pes planus and plantar fasciitis), and right foot condition (pes planus and plantar fasciitis) are remanded for further development.
- Partly granted
The Board granted service connection for right and left knee, cervical spine, lumbar spine, and sciatic radiculopathy disabilities but denied increased ratings for the psychiatric disorder and other conditions.
- Partly granted
The Board granted a 40 percent rating for the lumbar spine disability and a 20 percent rating for left, right sciatic radiculopathy, and left, right femoral radiculopathy. The claims for increased ratings for left ankle and knee disabilities were denied.
- Denied
The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for left sciatic radiculopathy, lumbar degenerative disc disease, right hammer toes, and left hammer toes were denied as the evidence did not support a higher rating based on the severity of his symptoms.
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