The Veteran's low back disability is currently rated at 20 percent, which is the maximum schedular rating available for his service-connected DDD and degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine. The evidence does not support a higher evaluation.
The deciding factor: The Veteran’s low back disability has not resulted in severe limitation of motion or unfavorable ankylosis as required for a higher rating under the applicable diagnostic codes.
- Claimed conditions
- Degenerative Disc Disease (DDD), Degenerative Arthritis
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 20%
- Decision date
- May 27, 2010
- Citation
- 1019742
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 1019742.
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
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claims for an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for degenerative disc disease and associated radiculopathy, as the record does not include all relevant treatment records prior to back surgery.
- Denied
The appeal of a proposed reduction of the evaluation of left knee meniscal tear, status post arthroscopic repair with chondromalacia, to include degenerative arthritis from 20 percent to 10 percent is dismissed. The Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 20 percent for his service-connected left knee disability was also denied.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for a back disorder, including degenerative disc disease, degenerative arthritis, spondylolisthesis, and compression fracture at L2, as the evidence did not support a finding that these conditions were incurred in or aggravated by service.
- Partly granted
The Veteran was granted a 40 percent rating for degenerative disc disease (DDD) prior to April 18, 2024, but the claims for increased ratings for DDD from that date and for right ankle disability were denied.
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