The Veteran's lumbar spine disability has not exhibited favorable or unfavorable ankylosis of the entire spine or thoracolumbar spine at any point during the appeal and has not manifested in incapacitating episodes having a total duration of at least 6 weeks during a 12 month period since May 25, 2012. Therefore, he is not entitled to higher ratings for his DDD of the lumbar spine with IVDS.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's disability did not meet the criteria for unfavorable ankylosis or incapacitating episodes as required by the applicable rating criteria.
- Claimed conditions
- Degenerative Disc Disease (DDD) of the lumbar spine with intervertebral disc syndrome (IVDS), Radiculopathy of left lower extremity sciatic nerve, Radiculopathy of right lower extremity sciatic nerve, Radiculopathy of left lower extremity femoral nerve, Radiculopathy of right lower extremity femoral nerve
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 60%
- Decision date
- October 17, 2017
- Citation
- 1746158
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 1746158.
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.
- Partly granted
The Board restored the previous ratings for degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine with intervertebral disc syndrome and left and right lower extremity radiculopathy, but denied higher ratings for other conditions.
- Granted
The Veteran's back disability, including associated sciatic and femoral nerve radiculopathies, is rated at 40 percent since December 14, 2021. The rating for the back disability remains granted.
- Granted
The Veteran's lumbar spine disability was initially rated at 10 percent and later increased to 40 percent effective August 10, 2021. The claim remains on appeal as the initial rating is still being considered.
- Denied
The Veteran's DDD of the lumbar spine with IVDS was denied an initial rating in excess of 10 percent prior to November 12, 2019.,As of November 12, 2019, a higher rating for DDD of the lumbar spine with IVDS is also denied.,A 20 percent disability rating was granted for left lower extremity radiculopathy effective November 7, 2017.,A 20 percent disability rating was granted for right lower extremity radiculopathy effective February 6, 2018.
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.