The Veteran's service-connected lumbar spine disability is rated at 40 percent, effective December 22, 2008. The Veteran's residuals of pilonidal cystectomy are not considered for rating purposes as they do not meet the criteria for a separate disability rating.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's lumbar spine disability has been found to have forward flexion limited to no more than 30 degrees, extension limited to no more than 10 degrees, left and right lateral flexion each limited to no more than 14 degrees, and lateral rotation limited to no more than 10 degrees in both directions. These findings meet the criteria for a 40 percent disability rating under the General Rating Formula for Diseases and Injuries of the Spine.
- Claimed conditions
- Degenerative arthritis and disc disease of the lumbar spine, L4-5 and L5-S1
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 40%
- Decision date
- April 14, 2010
- Citation
- 1014100
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 1014100.
What this means for you
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What you can do next
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