The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for chronic lumbar strain and left lower extremity varicose veins have been denied as the evidence does not support a higher rating under the applicable VA rating criteria.,The Veteran is currently rated at 20% for his service-connected chronic lumbar strain, which is the maximum schedular rating available. The claim for increased disability rating has been denied.
The deciding factor: The evidence does not show that the Veteran's service-connected conditions have resulted in functional impairment or other symptoms warranting a higher rating under the applicable VA rating criteria.
- Claimed conditions
- Chronic Lumbar Strain with Bulging Disc at L4-L5 with Degenerative Disc Disease, Left Lower Extremity Varicose Veins
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- December 27, 2019
- Citation
- 19196434
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 2,188 · 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 19196434.
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Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Denied
The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for cervical spine DJD and DDD, lumbosacral strain with DJD and DDD, left ankle sprain with ruptured Achilles tendon, allergic rhinitis, right lower extremity varicose veins, left lower extremity varicose veins, left upper extremity radiculopathy (likely Cervical Spine), right upper extremity radiculopathy (likely Cervical Spine), and left lower extremity radiculopathy (likely Cervical Spine) have all been denied. The Veteran's PTSD claim has also been denied.
- Denied
The veteran's bilateral varicose veins prior to January 12, 1998 were manifested by mild superficial varicose veins of both lower extremities.,After January 12, 1998, the veteran's right and left lower extremity varicose vein disabilities have been manifested by saphenous varicosities with no large vessel involvement.
- Denied
The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected lumbar myositis, psychoneurosis and conversion hysteria, residuals of shrapnel wounds of the left thigh and pelvis with retained foreign bodies and scars, and residuals of shell fragment wounds of the right thigh and left leg. The veteran was also denied entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities.
- Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claim for an initial evaluation in excess of 10 percent for his service-connected coronary artery disease, finding that the evidence did not support a higher rating based on the severity of his condition.
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