For the period from January 13, 2006 to January 23, 2008, the Veteran's service-connected DDD of the lumbar spine did not meet the criteria for a higher rating than 10 percent.,Since January 24, 2008, the Veteran's service-connected DDD of the lumbar spine did not meet the criteria for a higher rating than 20 percent.
The deciding factor: The medical evidence does not show that the Veteran’s DDD of the lumbar spine resulted in forward flexion of the thoracolumbar spine to 30 degrees or less, nor ankylosis.
- Claimed conditions
- Degenerative Disc Disease (DDD) of the lumbar spine
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 10%
- Decision date
- January 8, 2019
- Citation
- 19101249
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.
- Denied
The Board denied the veteran's claims for a higher rating for degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine and an earlier effective date for total disability based on individual unemployability.
- Denied
The Board denied an effective date prior to January 10, 2024, for the grant of service connection for degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine.
- Denied
The Board denied the claim for increased rating for degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine, both prior to and from December 2, 2019.
- Granted
The Board granted an initial disability rating of 40 percent for degenerative disc disease (DDD) of the lumbar spine.
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