The Board found that the reduction of the Veteran's disability ratings for lumbar strain, right and left lower extremity paresthesias was improper.,The RO reduced the Veteran's disability ratings from 40% to 10%, and from 10% to noncompensable, effective July 1, 2011.
The deciding factor: The reduction of the disability ratings for lumbar strain, right and left lower extremity paresthesias was not supported by evidence showing actual improvement in the Veteran's condition.
- Claimed conditions
- Lumbar Strain with Degenerative Disc Disease, Right Lower Extremity Paresthesias, Left Lower Extremity Paresthesias
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- December 14, 2016
- Citation
- 1646761
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 1646761.
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: Partly granted
The Board granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and denied a rating in excess of 20 percent for lumbar strain with degenerative disc disease, while remanding the claim for entitlement to a total disability rating based upon individual unemployability.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for various service-connected conditions, but granted an effective date of June 20, 2016, for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability and eligibility to Dependents' Educational Assistance.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for sleep apnea as secondary to her service-connected Persistent Depressive Disorder and Lumbar Strain with Degenerative Disc Disease, finding that obesity resulting from these conditions caused or aggravated her sleep apnea.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Veteran's claim for SMC at the housebound rate prior to February 3, 2020 was denied as he did not meet the criteria for SMC under 38 U.S.C. § 1114(s) due to his entitlement to a TDIU based on multiple service-connected disabilities.
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