The Veteran's degenerative disc disease with sacroiliac joint osteoarthritis and lumbar intervertebral disc syndrome was manifested by limitation of motion to 50 degrees of forward flexion, resulting in a combined range of motion of 125 degrees. The Board found that the disability did not meet or approximate criteria for a higher rating.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's degenerative disc disease with sacroiliac joint osteoarthritis and lumbar intervertebral disc syndrome resulted in limitation of forward flexion to 50 degrees, which is within the range considered for a 20 percent disability rating. The Board found that this did not meet or approximate criteria for a higher rating.
- Claimed conditions
- Degenerative disc disease, Sacroiliac joint osteoarthritis, Lumbar intervertebral disc syndrome
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 20%
- Decision date
- October 8, 2020
- Citation
- 20065397
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.
- Denied
The appeal for an increased rating for left hip, the claims for entitlement to an earlier effective date and an increased rating for right knee strain, and the appeal for an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for left shoulder strain were dismissed. The claim for a 40 percent rating from June 24, 2021 for degenerative disc disease was granted.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claim for a lumbar spine disability as secondary to a cervical spine disability due to an inadequate medical opinion.
- Partly granted
The Board granted a higher initial rating of 40 percent for degenerative arthritis, degenerative disc disease, lumbosacral strain, and scoliosis, but remanded the other issues.
- Granted
The Board granted service connection for degenerative disc disease, effective November 21, 2022.
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