The Board has confirmed and continued the current rating of 10 percent for osteoarthritis of the lumbar spine with degenerative disc disease, finding that it more nearly reflects the criteria for a 10 percent rating under the applicable rating criteria.
The deciding factor: The manifestations of the veteran's service-connected low back disability do not meet or approximate the criteria for a higher rating due to pain alone and other factors such as muscle spasm or guarding severe enough to result in an abnormal gait or spinal contour are not present.
- Claimed conditions
- osteoarthritis of the lumbar spine with degenerative disc disease
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 10%
- Decision date
- November 9, 2007
- Citation
- 0735560
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 0735560.
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.
- Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for chronic thoracolumbar strain, thoracogenic scoliosis and osteoarthritis of the lumbar spine with degenerative disc disease (claimed as lumbar back pain) and a skin condition. The evidence did not support a finding that these conditions were incurred in or aggravated by service.
- Denied
The Veteran's service-connected osteoarthritis of the lumbar spine with degenerative disc disease has not resulted in limitation of flexion to 30 degrees or less, nor ankylosis of any portion of the spine. There have been no incapacitating episodes.
- Granted
The Veteran's low back disorder was initially granted service connection with a 10 percent rating. The appeal sought higher ratings for different periods of time, and the Board found that the criteria were not met for any staged ratings in excess of the initial 10 percent assigned.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling a VA examination.
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