The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his lumbar spine disorder is denied, and he is granted entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability.
The deciding factor: The VA examiner found that the Veteran’s forward flexion of the thoracolumbar spine was greater than 30 degrees but not less than 45 degrees, with pain noted during range of motion testing. The Veteran's symptoms did not result in ankylosis or other severe functional loss.
- Claimed conditions
- residuals, herniated nucleus pulposus, status post laminectomies
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 20%
- Decision date
- August 25, 2022
- Citation
- 22048465
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 22048465.
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.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for an increased rating for his service-connected back disability and for a TDIU due to his service-connected disabilities. The claims are being remanded because of inadequate development, including obtaining SSA medical records and employment verification.
- Denied
The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for residuals, herniated nucleus pulposus, status post laminectomies was denied as the disability does not meet the criteria for a rating in excess of 20 percent.
- 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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