The Veteran's service-connected degenerative disc disease with L-1 compression fracture and L5-S1 spondylolisthesis is currently rated at 20 percent, but the Board has determined that this rating is not appropriate as his disability does not meet or approximate the criteria for a higher rating.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's lumbar spine limitation of motion was to, at worst, 40 degrees on flexion and 5 degrees on extension, which did not meet the criteria for a higher rating under the General Rating Formula for Diseases and Injuries of the Spine or the Formula for Rating Intervertebral Disc Syndrome.
- Claimed conditions
- Degenerative disc disease with L-1 compression fracture, L5-S1 spondylolisthesis
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 20%
- Decision date
- August 27, 2020
- Citation
- 20056841
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 20056841.
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.
- Granted
The Board granted entitlement to a total disability rating based on unemployability due to service-connected disabilities for the period beginning May 25, 2021.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional development to determine the appropriate disability rating and whether he is unemployable due to his lumbar spine disability.
- Denied
The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not preclude him from securing and maintaining substantially gainful employment, thus the TDIU claim was denied.
- Denied
The Board denied a rating higher than 20 percent for the Veteran's lumbar spine disability, finding that the evidence did not show forward flexion of the thoracolumbar spine of 30 degrees or less, or favorable ankylosis of the entire thoracolumbar spine.
Free starter guide for your own claim
Reading this because you were denied or under-rated? Get the plain-English next steps — your appeal options, the deadline that protects you, and how appeals like yours turn out. One email, no spam.
We will only use this to send the guide. No spam, unsubscribe any time. We never sell your information.
We are not the VA. Veterans’ Rights is an independent resource built for veterans. We are not the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, not part of the government, and not endorsed by any government agency.
This is general information, not legal advice. For advice about your own situation, talk to a VA-accredited representative — many help for free.