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Granted

The veteran's lumbar spine disability, characterized by degenerative joint disease and spondylosis at L5, has been granted an initial rating of 40 percent, effective from the date of the award of service connection.

The deciding factor: The veteran's lumbar spine disability manifested with progressively worsening pain on extension, flexion, and rotation, limitation of motion, and significant decreased occupational and recreational function level. The VA examinations supported these findings, leading to a 40 percent rating under the General Rating Formula for Diseases and Injuries of the Spine.

Claimed conditions
degenerative joint disease (DJD) of the lumbar spine with spondylosis at L5
How they argued it
Direct service connection
Exposure basis
None
Rating assigned
40%
Decision date
January 14, 2005
Citation
0501214

Veterans Law Judge

JAMES L. MARCH

Decisions by this judge: 2,776 · Granted: 24% (granted or partly granted, in the vetted decisions on this site)

Judge attribution: 2025 complete; earlier years partial.

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 0501214.

What this means for you

A grant means the Board agreed the veteran was entitled to the benefit. Decisions like this show the kind of evidence and arguments that tend to succeed for claims like it.

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