The Veteran's claim for increased ratings and service connection for various conditions related to his back disability have been denied. The low back disability is rated at 40 percent, effective November 16, 2022.
The deciding factor: The VA examiner found that the Veteran’s low back disability manifested as flexion of the thoracolumbar spine greater than 30 degrees but not greater than 60 degrees, which corresponds to a 40 percent evaluation under the General Rating Formula for Diseases and Injuries of the Spine.
- Claimed conditions
- enlarged prostate, lumbosacral strain with degenerative arthritis (low back disability), right lower extremity radiculopathy, sciatic nerve, left lower extremity radiculopathy, sciatic nerve, right lower extremity radiculopathy, femoral nerve, left lower extremity radiculopathy, femoral nerve
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 40%
- Decision date
- December 20, 2024
- Citation
- A24085477
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 A24085477.
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.
- Dismissed
The Veteran's appeal has been dismissed due to his death. The claims for service connection and rating of various conditions have not progressed further.
- Dismissed
The Board dismissed the Veteran's appeal for service connection of a right ankle disorder.,The Board denied the Veteran's request for an earlier effective date for his service connection for gastroenteritis, lumbosacral strain, left lower extremity radiculopathy, right lower extremity radiculopathy, left ankle lateral collateral ligament strain, right knee strain and hemorrhoids. The earliest effective date is December 5, 2018.,The Board denied the Veteran's request for an earlier effective date for his service connection of a lumbosacral strain. The earliest effective date is December 5, 2018.,The Board denied the Veteran's request for an earlier effective date for his service connection of left lower extremity radiculopathy, sciatic nerve. The earliest effective date is December 5, 2018.,The Board denied the Veteran's request for an earlier effective date for his service connection of right lower extremity radiculopathy, sciatic nerve. The earliest effective date is December 5, 2018.,The Board denied the Veteran's request for an earlier effective date for his service connection of a left ankle lateral collateral ligament strain. The earliest effective date is December 5, 2018.,The Board denied the Veteran's request for an earlier effective date for his service connection of right knee strain. The earliest effective date is December 5, 2018.,The Board denied the Veteran's request for an earlier effective date for his service connection of hemorrhoids. The earliest effective date is December 5, 2018.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for hypertension and enlarged prostate, finding that the Veteran did not serve in the Korean DMZ or otherwise expose to herbicide agents during his active duty. The evidence did not support a nexus between the conditions and service.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's claims for service connection for an enlarged prostate, incontinence, and steroid-induced diabetes mellitus type II are being remanded due to the AOJ not considering his private treatment records.
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