The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected conditions, including degenerative disc disease and psychiatric disability.
The deciding factor: The evidence of record did not support a higher rating as the Veteran's symptoms did not more closely approximate the criteria for a higher rating under applicable regulations.
- Claimed conditions
- T12 - L1 degenerative disc disease and bulging disc by MRI, minimal compression fracture at the level of L1 vertebrae by x-rays of lumbar spine, and arthritis, Left lower extremity radiculopathy, Right lower extremity radiculopathy, Acquired psychiatric disability to include unspecified depressive disorder
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- October 7, 2024
- Citation
- A24063857
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.
- Partly granted
The Veteran was granted an effective date of July 31, 2012, for TDIU and October 22, 2012, for service connection of left and right lower extremity radiculopathy.
- Denied
The appeal for higher ratings and effective dates for various conditions was denied, with the exception of left and right lower extremity radiculopathy which were granted an earlier effective date.
- Denied
The Board denied increased ratings for various disabilities and granted earlier effective dates for service connection of scars, but denied an earlier effective date for individual unemployability.
- Partly granted
The Veteran's cervical spine disability is granted a 30 percent rating, while the lumbar and lower extremity radiculopathy claims are denied. An earlier effective date for right lower extremity radiculopathy was granted, and TDIU based on single service-connected disability is remanded.
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