The Veteran's lumbar spine disability has been rated at 40 percent since December 2000. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating based on unfavorable ankylosis or incapacitating episodes of back pain requiring bed rest prescribed by a physician.
The deciding factor: The medical evidence did not show unfavorable ankylosis or incapacitating episodes of back pain as required for a higher rating under the General Rating Formula for Diseases and Injuries of the Spine.
- Claimed conditions
- lumbosacral strain with degenerative changes, bladder impairment
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 40%
- Decision date
- June 23, 2017
- Citation
- 1723763
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 1723763.
What this means for you
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Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Dismissed
The Veteran's appeal for a rating in excess of 20 percent for his left knee disability is dismissed.,Service connection has been granted for lumbosacral strain with degenerative changes and bilateral hip acetabular tears, which are found to be proximately due to his service-connected left knee disability.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the issues of entitlement to increased ratings for lumbosacral strain with degenerative changes, right lower extremity radiculopathy, and left lower extremity radiculopathy due to insufficient evidence.
- Dismissed
The Board dismissed all issues on appeal, including service connection for erectile dysfunction, a bladder impairment, and special monthly compensation for loss of a creative organ.
- Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 20 percent for lumbosacral strain with degenerative changes, as the evidence did not support a higher disability rating.
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