The Veteran's appeal for increased ratings for lumbar back strain and bilateral plantar fasciitis was denied. The Veteran did not meet the criteria for a higher rating under the applicable VA rating schedule.
The deciding factor: The evidence did not show that the Veteran met the criteria for an increased evaluation based on Diagnostic Code 5237 (for diseases and injuries of the spine) or any other relevant diagnostic codes.
- Claimed conditions
- lumbar back strain
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 10%
- Decision date
- June 13, 2019
- Citation
- 19146383
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 2,156 · Granted: 29% (granted or partly granted, in the vetted 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. Look up the original decision on VA.gov (opens in a new tab) using citation 19146383.
What this means for you
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What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to a lack of adequate examination and opinion regarding his bilateral foot disorders, including neuropathy, and lumbar disorder. The claims will be reviewed with additional examinations and opinions.
- Dismissed
The Veteran's appeals for service connection for various conditions have been dismissed as the Veteran withdrew his claims at a hearing.
- Denied
The Veteran's service-connected lumbar back strain, cervical spine disability, bilateral pes planus, left ankle and knee disabilities, tinnitus, and hearing loss are rated accordingly. The effective date for the grant of service connection is denied prior to December 29, 2015. A total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disability (TDIU) and special monthly compensation (SMC) claims have also been denied.
- Granted
The Board granted service connection for a lumbar spine disability, diagnosed as lumbar back strain, degenerative disc disease with posterior annular fissuring at L5-S1, and osteochondrosis and spondyloarthrosis L4-5 and L5-S1.
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