The Veteran's service-connected back disability, LLR, and RLR are not rated higher than the current 20 percent due to lack of evidence showing more severe symptoms or functional impairment.
The deciding factor: The medical evidence does not show forward flexion limited to 30 degrees or less, nor does it demonstrate incapacitating episodes of IVDS having a total duration of at least four weeks during the past 12 months.
- Claimed conditions
- Degenerative Disc Disease (DDD) of the lower back, Left Lower Extremity Sciatic Nerve Radiculopathy (LLR), Right Lower Extremity Sciatic Nerve Radiculopathy (RLR)
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 20%
- Decision date
- March 19, 2026
- Citation
- A26024987
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 A26024987.
What this means for you
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What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Granted
The Board has granted service connection for Degenerative Disc Disease of the lower back, finding that the Veteran's current condition is related to his in-service injury and continuous symptoms since then.
- Denied
The Veteran's claim for an initial rating greater than 10 percent for degenerative disc disease of the lower back was denied. The Board found that his disability did not meet or approximate criteria warranting a higher rating based on functional impairment.
- 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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