The Board has granted a 40 percent evaluation for osteoarthritis of the lumbar spine, finding that it meets the criteria for such an evaluation based on severe functional impairment. The claim for increased rating for osteoarthritis of the thoracic spine is denied as there are no findings indicative of pronounced intervertebral disc syndrome.
The deciding factor: The veteran's osteoarthritis of the lumbar spine resulted in severe functional impairment, warranting a 40 percent evaluation under Diagnostic Code 5292 for severe limitation of motion. The thoracic spine condition did not meet the criteria for any higher rating as there were no findings indicative of pronounced intervertebral disc syndrome.
- Claimed conditions
- Osteoarthritis of the Lumbar Spine, Osteoarthritis of the Thoracic Spine
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- June 6, 2001
- Citation
- 0115549
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. Search VA.gov for the original decision (opens in a new tab) using citation 0115549.
What this means for you
A grant means the Board allowed the benefit or issue identified in this decision. Review the original order: other issues in the same appeal may have a different outcome, and this decision does not predict another claim.
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 service connection for COPD and osteoarthritis of the lumbar spine due to additional development being necessary, including a VA examination.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for a cervical spine disability and denied an earlier effective date for the grant of a 40 percent rating for osteoarthritis of the lumbar spine. The Veteran's cervical spine disability was not incurred in service, and his claim for increased rating for osteoarthritis of the lumbar spine is granted with an effective date of September 17, 2005.
- Denied
The Veteran's claim for increased evaluations for right shoulder strain and osteoarthritis of the lumbar spine was denied. The Veteran received a rating of 40 percent for right shoulder strain (dominant) from January 6, 2012 onwards, but her claim for an increased evaluation in excess of 20 percent for osteoarthritis of the lumbar spine remains pending.
- Denied
The Veteran's lumbar spine disability is currently rated at 20 percent prior to March 7, 2016. The Board finds that the evidence does not support a higher rating for this period.
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