The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for radiculopathy and degenerative disc disease lumbar spine were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating based on current symptomatology.
The deciding factor: The evidence did not show ankylosis of the thoracolumbar spine or incapacitating episodes of IVDS having a total duration of at least six weeks during the past 12 months, which are required for higher ratings under the General Rating Formula and the Formula for Rating IVDS Based on Incapacitating Episodes.
- Claimed conditions
- radiculopathy, degenerative disc disease lumbar spine
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- December 3, 2019
- Citation
- 19190360
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 19190360.
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.
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- Partly granted
The Board denied several claims for increased ratings and granted a 20 percent rating for the left ankle disability, while denying all other claims.
- Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for radiculopathy, as there was no evidence of a current diagnosis of radiculopathy.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the Veteran's claim for service connection for lumbosacral strain with degenerative disc disease, spinal stenosis, IVDS, radiculopathy, and bulging disc to obtain a more thorough medical opinion.
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