The Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 20 percent for spondylolisthesis L5-S1 & L4 compression fracture, DJD, arthritis lumbar spine was denied. The case is also remanded for further examination and opinion regarding service connection for an unstable right hip and migraine headaches.
The deciding factor: The preponderance of the evidence indicates that the Veteran's service-connected thoracolumbar spine disability has not been manifested by pain-free forward flexion of the forward flexion of the thoracolumbar spine to 30 degrees or less, favorable ankylosis of the thoracolumbar spine, doctor-prescribed bed rest, or any associated objective neurologic abnormalities for which a compensable evaluation is warranted.
- Claimed conditions
- spondylolisthesis L5-S1 & L4 compression fracture, dJD (degenerative joint disease), arthritis lumbar spine
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- April 8, 2019
- Citation
- 19126549
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 2,548 · Granted: 31% (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 19126549.
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 service-connected disabilities have prevented him from securing and maintaining substantially gainful employment, warranting a TDIU.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including a new VA spine examination and TDIU claim development. The Veteran's service connection claim for his back condition remains on appeal.
- Whole decision: 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.
- Whole decision: 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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