The Veteran's DDD of the lumbar spine was initially rated at 10 percent, effective July 18, 1998. The claim for an increased rating from August 30, 2004 to June 26, 2008 resulted in a grant of a 20 percent disability rating.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's DDD of the lumbar spine manifested with symptoms such as pain and limitation of flexion, extension, bilateral lateral flexion, and bilateral rotation all to 35 degrees. These findings did not meet the criteria for a higher evaluation (i.e., ankylosis or incapacitating episodes requiring bedrest and treatment by a physician).
- Claimed conditions
- Degenerative Disc Disease (DDD) of the lumbar spine
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 20%
- Decision date
- June 11, 2010
- Citation
- 1021753
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 1021753.
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.
- Denied
The Board denied the veteran's claims for a higher rating for degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine and an earlier effective date for total disability based on individual unemployability.
- Denied
The Board denied an effective date prior to January 10, 2024, for the grant of service connection for degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine.
- Denied
The Board denied the claim for increased rating for degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine, both prior to and from December 2, 2019.
- Granted
The Board granted an initial disability rating of 40 percent for degenerative disc disease (DDD) of the lumbar spine.
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