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
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
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