The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for degenerative joint disease of the lumbosacral spine was denied. Separate ratings in excess of 10 percent were granted for peripheral neuropathy of the lower right and left extremities beginning December 17, 2017.
The deciding factor: The evidence did not meet the criteria for a higher rating under Diagnostic Codes 5237 or 8520 due to lack of objective findings supporting more severe symptoms.
- Claimed conditions
- Degenerative Joint Disease of the Lumbosacral Spine, Peripheral Neuropathy of the Lower Right Extremity, Peripheral Neuropathy of the Lower Left Extremity
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- May 30, 2019
- Citation
- 19141056
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 1,549 · Granted: 26% (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 19141056.
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 the veteran's claims for increased ratings for GERD, peripheral neuropathy of the lower right extremity, and peripheral neuropathy of the lower left extremity.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's back disability is rated at 40 percent effective January 30, 2013. The issue of service connection for seizures secondary to the low back disability has been remanded.
- Whole decision: Partly granted
The Board denied an initial compensable rating for erectile dysfunction and denied earlier effective dates for service connection, SMC, TDIU, and DEA benefits. However, the Board granted effective dates of June 6, 2017, for the grant of service connection for peripheral neuropathy in all extremities.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims due to outstanding SSA records and VA treatment records, as well as inadequate opinions regarding service connection for sleep apnea. The issues include rating adjustments for low back disability and determining whether sleep apnea is related to service or aggravated by other conditions.
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