The Veteran's lumbosacral strain with degenerative joint disease, L5-S1, was rated at 20 percent prior to August 6, 2015, and in excess of 40 percent from that date. The Board found no basis for a higher rating under the applicable VA rating criteria.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's lumbosacral strain with degenerative joint disease did not meet the criteria for a higher rating based on the severity of his symptoms, as he had forward flexion limited to 40 degrees and 20 degrees respectively, which did not warrant an increased rating under the applicable VA rating criteria.
- Claimed conditions
- lumbosacral strain with degenerative joint disease (DJD), L5-S1
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- September 17, 2018
- Citation
- 18135837
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 18135837.
What this means for you
A remand is not a loss. The Board sent the case back for more development — often a new exam or missing records — before making a final decision. Many remands later end in a grant, and the decision spells out exactly what the Board wanted to see.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Granted
The Veteran's lumbosacral strain with DJD, L5-S1, was granted a 40 percent disability rating prior to August 6, 2015. The evidence is in relative equipoise as to whether the condition met the criteria for a higher rating.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the claim for a VA examination to determine the current severity of the Veteran's lumbosacral strain with DJD, L5-S1 (back condition).
- Denied
The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected lumbar myositis, psychoneurosis and conversion hysteria, residuals of shrapnel wounds of the left thigh and pelvis with retained foreign bodies and scars, and residuals of shell fragment wounds of the right thigh and left leg. The veteran was also denied entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities.
- Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claim for an initial evaluation in excess of 10 percent for his service-connected coronary artery disease, finding that the evidence did not support a higher rating based on the severity of his condition.
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