The Veteran's service-connected lumbar spine disability has not resulted in unfavorable ankylosis or incapacitating episodes of IVDS totaling at least six weeks during the appeal period, thus preventing a rating higher than 40 percent.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's symptoms do not meet the criteria for an increased rating under either the General Rating Formula or the Intervertebral Disc Syndrome (IVDS) Formula due to lack of evidence of unfavorable ankylosis or incapacitating episodes of IVDS totaling at least six weeks during the appeal period.
- Claimed conditions
- lumbar spinal stenosis, degenerative disease of the lumbar spine
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- December 11, 2017
- Citation
- 1756997
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. Read the original VA decision (opens in a new tab) using citation 1756997.
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: Granted
The Veteran's initial 10 percent rating for migraines is granted, while a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss is denied. Service connection is granted for pes planus, but not for degenerative disease of the lumbar spine, bilateral knee pain, hypertension, GERD, or sleep apnea and generalized anxiety disorder.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Board has granted service connection for lumbar spine disability, left hip disability, right hip disability, left lower extremity radiculopathy, and right lower extremity radiculopathy as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected left total knee replacement.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for lumbar spinal stenosis, spondylolisthesis, and radiculopathy of the left lower extremity as there is no persuasive evidence that these conditions began during or were caused by his military service.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Veteran's claim for service connection for lumbar spinal stenosis has been denied as there is no persuasive evidence of a current diagnosis.,Her claim for an initial compensable rating for chronic sinusitis was also denied due to lack of sufficient evidence showing the required symptoms.
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