The Board granted an increased rating to 20 percent for the Veteran's low back disability involving degenerative joint disease with disc space narrowing at L5-S1, effective from December 1, 2008.
The deciding factor: The VA examination revealed that the Veteran had motion in every direction of his thoracolumbar spine, including flexion between 50 and 60 degrees, which did not meet the criteria for a higher rating under the General Rating Formula for Diseases and Injuries of the Spine or the Formula for Rating Intervertebral Disc Syndrome Based on Incapacitating Episodes.
- Claimed conditions
- Degenerative Joint Disease with Disc Space Narrowing at L5-S1
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 20%
- Decision date
- May 13, 2010
- Citation
- 1017876
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 1017876.
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.
What you can do next
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