The Veteran's osteoarthritis and intervertebral disc syndrome, lumbar spine, with chronic low back pain was rated at 20 percent. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating due to limited range of motion.,The postoperative scar, lumbar spine, was rated as noncompensable under Diagnostic Code 7805. The Veteran's scar does not result in limitation of function to warrant a compensable disability rating.
The deciding factor: The evidence did not establish that the Veteran’s osteoarthritis and intervertebral disc syndrome, lumbar spine, with chronic low back pain warranted an increased rating beyond 20 percent due to limited range of motion.,The postoperative scar, lumbar spine, was rated as noncompensable under Diagnostic Code 7805 because it did not result in limitation of function.
- Claimed conditions
- Osteoarthritis and intervertebral disc syndrome, lumbar spine, Postoperative scar, lumbar spine, Radiculopathy of the left lower extremity (sciatic nerve), Radiculopathy of the right lower extremity (sciatic nerve)
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- August 2, 2019
- Citation
- 19160286
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 2,287 · Granted: 23% (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 19160286.
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Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Denied
The Veteran's lumbar spine condition and lower extremity radiculopathy conditions were rated at 40 percent and 20 percent, respectively, effective May 24, 2022.,Prior to May 24, 2022, there is no evidence of an increase in severity for the Veteran's lumbar spine condition or lower extremity radiculopathy conditions.
- Granted
The Board granted earlier effective dates for the awards of service connection for bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy and a total disability rating due to individual unemployability, assigning them from August 15, 2021.
- Partly granted
The Board granted earlier effective dates for the increased 20 percent ratings for radiculopathy of the left and right lower extremities (sciatic nerve) but denied earlier effective dates for service connection for radiculopathy involving both femoral nerves, as well as for chemical pneumonia and Dietl's crisis.
- Denied
The Board denied entitlement to higher ratings for the Veteran's service-connected lumbar spine and lower extremity radiculopathy disabilities, but granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability from April 22 to April 30, 2015.
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