The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for degenerative disc and joint disease of the lumbar spine, left lower extremity radiculopathy, and right lower extremity radiculopathy have been denied. The Veteran is currently rated at 40% for left lower extremity radiculopathy.
The deciding factor: The evidence does not show ankylosis or incapacitating episodes of intervertebral disc syndrome (IVDS) with a total duration of at least six weeks over the past twelve months, which would be required to warrant a higher rating under Diagnostic Codes 5243 and 8520.
- Claimed conditions
- Degenerative disc and joint disease of the lumbar spine, Left lower extremity radiculopathy secondary to degenerative disc and joint disease of the lumbar spine, Right lower extremity radiculopathy secondary to degenerative disc and joint 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
- March 5, 2019
- Citation
- 19115791
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 1,797 · Granted: 20% (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 19115791.
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 Board has restored the Veteran's disability rating for his lumbar spine disability from 40% to 40%, effective August 31, 2020. The reduction was improper due to lack of actual improvement in the Veteran's condition.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 50 percent for degenerative disc and joint disease of the lumbar spine due to an inadequate VA examination.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim for a VA examination and another, adequate, VA addendum opinion to properly rate his lumbar spine disability due to insufficient reasoning in the August 2024 VA medical opinion.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not prevent him from securing or following substantially gainful employment.
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