The Veteran's claim for increased ratings for his lumbar spine disability was denied. Prior to March 6, 2019, the disability rating remained at 10 percent. On and after March 6, 2019, a higher rating of 20 percent was also denied.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's symptoms did not meet or exceed the criteria for a higher rating under the applicable VA rating schedule.
- Claimed conditions
- lumbosacral strain with degenerative disc disease (lumbar spine disability)
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- August 14, 2019
- Citation
- 19163289
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 1,762 · Granted: 24% (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 19163289.
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: Partly granted
The Board denied increased ratings for the Veteran's right knee and lumbar spine disabilities but granted a 30% rating for essential tremors in the right upper extremity. The claims for service connection for headaches, a right shoulder disorder, and bilateral hearing loss were remanded.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran is seeking a higher rating for his lumbar spine disability due to muscle spasms and reduced movement. The Board has found that the December 7, 2022 initial rating decision did not consider all relevant evidence and thus remands the case for further evaluation.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's claims for effective dates earlier than March 20, 2019 for service connection for lumbar spine disability and left lower extremity radiculopathy are denied.,The Veteran's claim for an effective date earlier than November 25, 2019 for service connection for left knee disability is denied.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU were denied. The lumbar spine disability was rated at 40 percent, while the right lower extremity radiculopathy was rated at 10 percent prior to September 12, 2017, and 20 percent thereafter.
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