The Veteran's claim for higher ratings for his service-connected degenerative changes of the lumbosacral spine status post-operative diskectomy and fusion, L5-S1 was denied. The rating assigned prior to December 12, 2018, is 10 percent, and after that date is 20 percent.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's degenerative changes of the lumbosacral spine did not meet the criteria for a higher rating under the applicable VA Rating Schedule due to the lack of evidence of more severe manifestations such as ankylosis or incapacitating episodes having a total duration of at least two weeks but less than four weeks during the past 12 months.
- Claimed conditions
- Degenerative Changes of the Lumbosacral Spine
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 20%
- Decision date
- January 21, 2020
- Citation
- 20004752
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 2,456 · 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 20004752.
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Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Denied
The Veteran's claim for increased ratings for degenerative changes of the lumbosacral spine and lower extremity radiculopathy was denied. The Veteran is currently receiving a 10% rating for each condition.
- Granted
The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, especially PTSD with major depressive disorder, peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities, and degenerative changes of the lumbosacral spine, preclude him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation. The Board finds that TDIU is warranted.
- Denied
The Veteran's service-connected conditions have been rated, with the exception of the residuals of right tibia stress fractures and pseudofolliculitis barbae, which are assigned noncompensable ratings. The RO has granted a 10 percent rating for degenerative changes of the lumbosacral spine.
- Granted
The veteran's bilateral pes cavus with hammertoes and calluses have been granted service connection, effective from November 16, 2005. The right and left knee disorders are not service connected as secondary to his service-connected bilateral hammertoes.
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