The Veteran's back disability is currently rated as 40 percent disabling, but the appeal for a higher rating remains denied.,The Veteran's left ankle disability and left lower extremity radiculopathy are both rated appropriately based on their current severity.
The deciding factor: The evidence does not support granting any additional ratings beyond those currently assigned due to lack of medical documentation supporting more severe manifestations or functional impairment.
- Claimed conditions
- lumbosacral herniated nucleus pulposus with surgical repair, post traumatic arthritis, residuals of multiple left ankle sprains
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- August 6, 2019
- Citation
- 19160960
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 19160960.
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.
- Granted
The Veteran's claim for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) as secondary to his service-connected lumbar spine osteoarthritis, left foot heel spur, and residuals of multiple left ankle sprains has been granted. The Board found that the Veteran's obesity was an intermediate step between these conditions and OSA.
- Denied
The Board denied an increased rating in excess of 40 percent for the veteran's left shoulder disability, finding that his condition is manifested by nonunion of the humerus or loss of the humerus head.
- Granted
The Board granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, effective from the date of the February 2025 rating decision.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claim for a medical examination to determine if the Veteran's current neck strain is related to his in-service activities.
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