The veteran's claim for a higher rating than 20 percent for back disability was denied. The claim for separate ratings for bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy was remanded.

The deciding factor: The evidence showed the veteran's forward flexion of the thoracolumbar spine was 60 degrees, and there was no ankylosis or functionally equivalent symptoms.

Claimed conditions

degenerative disc disease L5 S1 with mechanical low back pain, bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy

How they argued it

Direct service connection

Exposure basis

None

Rating assigned

20%

Decision date

January 7, 2025

Citation

A25001348

Want to see how appeals like this one tend to go? Appeals like mine