The Veteran's claim for higher ratings for his lumbar spine, right knee, and left fifth finger conditions was denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a rating in excess of 20 percent for degenerative disc disease, lumbar spine, L3-S1 prior to April 18, 2015, or as of April 18, 2015.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's range of motion measurements did not meet the criteria for a higher rating and there was no evidence of ankylosis or intervertebral disc syndrome. The examiner noted that the Veteran had pain but it did not result in functional loss on repetitive use testing.
- Claimed conditions
- Degenerative disc disease, lumbar spine, L3-S1
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 20%
- Decision date
- December 23, 2016
- Citation
- 1647887
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 1647887.
What this means for you
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What you can do next
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- Denied
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- Granted
The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD is granted as the evidence shows a current diagnosis of PTSD, an in-service stressor, and a medical link between the two.
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