The Veteran's lumbar spine disability is denied for ratings in excess of the currently assigned 10% and 20% prior to April 4, 2016 and from April 4, 2016 to March 22, 2019 respectively.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's symptoms do not meet or approximate the criteria for a higher rating under any applicable diagnostic code.
- Claimed conditions
- lumbar spine post-laminectomy syndrome with spondylosis and degenerative arthritis of the spine, lumbosacral strain status post spinal fusion L5-S1, intervertebral disc syndrome (lumbar spine disability)
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- December 23, 2019
- Citation
- 19195929
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 1,911 · Granted: 10% (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 19195929.
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: Denied
The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his service-connected lumbar spine disability was denied. The current rating of 40 percent is maintained as the evidence does not meet the criteria for a higher rating under the applicable diagnostic codes.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Veteran's lumbar spine disability was rated at 40 percent from October 28, 2019 to November 1, 2022. The VA increased the rating to 100 percent effective November 2, 2022.,SMC was granted for the Veteran's service-connected disabilities from December 2, 2020 to November 1, 2022.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional evidence and a new VA examination.
- Whole decision: Dismissed
The Veteran's claims for service connection have been dismissed as the Veteran requested that his appeal be withdrawn from the legacy appeal system and considered under the Appeals Modernization Act (AMA) review system.
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