The Board denied a rating in excess of 20 percent for the Veteran's degenerative disc disease (DDD) of the lumbosacral spine, finding that the current disability picture does not warrant an increased rating.
The deciding factor: The VA examination findings did not support forward flexion of the lumbar spine at most limited to 30 degrees or favorable ankylosis of the entire thoracolumbar spine, and there were no incapacitating episodes of IVDS that required physician-prescribed bed rest over the past 12 months.
- Claimed conditions
- Degenerative disc disease (DDD) of the lumbosacral spine
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 20%
- Decision date
- July 30, 2019
- Citation
- 19158661
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 19158661.
What this means for you
A denial is a starting point, not the end of the road. You can see why this claim fell short — and, if you are still inside the one-year window, the appeal lanes that may remain open to you.
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 case due to a need for an adequate VA examination and retrospective opinion regarding the Veteran's service-connected degenerative disc disease of the lumbosacral spine, particularly in relation to limited range of motion and associated functional impairment.
- Dismissed
The appeal of the propriety of the reduction from 40 percent to 10 percent disabling, effective May 18, 2021, for service-connected degenerative arthritis and degenerative disc disease of the lumbosacral spine is dismissed as the Veteran withdrew the appeal.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection are remanded due to inadequate VA examinations, missing treatment records, and procedural errors. The claims will be returned to the RO for further development.
- Granted
The Board has determined that the Veteran's degenerative disc disease of the lumbosacral spine is related to his active-duty service and grants service connection for this condition.
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