The Board denied service connection for an upper sacral spine disorder with bilateral neural foraminal stenosis and denied evaluations in excess of 40 percent for a lumbar spine disorder, separate evaluations for right lower extremity radiculopathy, and separate evaluations for left lower extremity radiculopathy. The Veteran's sinusitis was also denied as having an evaluation in excess of 10 percent.
The deciding factor: The evidence did not support the presence or current severity of a diagnosed upper sacral spine disorder with bilateral neural foraminal stenosis, and the lumbar spine disorder evaluations were found to be appropriate based on the findings. The Veteran's radiculopathy was noted but not considered separately as it is part of her primary disability evaluation.
- Claimed conditions
- upper sacral spine disorder with bilateral neural foraminal stenosis, lumbar spine disorder, sinusitis
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- January 25, 2019
- Citation
- 19106191
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 2,170 · Granted: 38% (granted or partly granted, in the indexed decisions on this site)
Judge attribution: 2025 complete; earlier years partial.
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 19106191.
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: Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for various hip and lower extremity disorders, including as secondary to a lumbar spine disorder. The case is being returned to the AOJ for further action.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board has found a pre-decisional duty to assist error and has ordered the case back to the AOJ for proper notice regarding the Veteran's right to a hearing.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's initial claim for an increased rating for sinusitis is being remanded due to a failure by the AOJ to provide proper notice of his right to a hearing.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board has denied service connection for sinusitis and remanded the Veteran's claims for chronic lower back pain, right knee pain, left knee pain, neck pain, and GERD.
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