The Veteran's lumbar spine and left leg radiculopathy disabilities are currently rated at 10 percent, which is the maximum rating available under VA regulations.,PTSD was initially rated at 50 percent prior to March 13, 2017, but this rating has been denied as it does not meet the criteria for a higher rating. After March 13, 2017, PTSD is rated at 70 percent, which is also the maximum available under VA regulations.,The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not preclude him from obtaining or following substantially gainful employment.
The deciding factor: The medical evidence does not support a higher rating for any of the conditions due to lack of additional impairment beyond what is already accounted for by the current ratings. The Veteran’s PTSD symptoms, while present, have not resulted in total occupational and social impairment.
- Claimed conditions
- lumbar spine degenerative joint disease, radiculopathy, left lower extremity, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- May 28, 2019
- Citation
- 19140903
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 1,812 · Granted: 30% (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 19140903.
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: Denied
The Board denied service connection for tinnitus, lower back condition, radiculopathy of the right and left lower extremities, and bilateral hearing loss.,There is no evidence linking these conditions to service.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board has determined that new and relevant evidence has been submitted for the claim of entitlement to TDIU, which is being remanded. The issue of service connection for obstructive sleep apnea is also being remanded due to conflicting medical opinions.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board has decided to remand the claims for service connection for depression, other specified trauma- and stressor-related disorder with alcohol use disorder, severe, and PTSD due to inadequate medical opinions provided by VA examiners.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Veteran's initial compensable rating for left ear hearing loss and a higher rating for PTSD are both denied.
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