The Veteran's claim for increased ratings for his service-connected arthritis of the lumbar spine has been granted, with a disability rating of 20 percent effective as of August 23, 2007. A separate 10 percent rating is assigned for his lumbar radiculopathy from November 13, 2007 through May 21, 2008.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's lumbar spine disability was found to be manifested by forward flexion to 60 degrees or less due to pain as of August 23, 2007, meeting the criteria for a 20 percent rating under Diagnostic Code 5242. Lumbar radiculopathy from November 13, 2007 through May 21, 2008 was also found to meet the criteria for a separate 10 percent rating.
- Claimed conditions
- arthritis of the lumbar spine
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 20%
- Decision date
- September 15, 2010
- Citation
- 1034813
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 1034813.
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.
- Granted
The Board has granted service connection for PTSD, major depressive disorder, generalized anxiety disorder, insomnia, unspecified psychosis, arthritis of the lumbar spine, degenerative disc disease, multilevel spinal stenosis, and arthritis of the cervical spine and degenerative disc disease. The diagnoses are linked to in-service physical assaults.
- Granted
The Board granted service connection for a low back disability and a cervical spine disability, finding that the evidence was in equipoise regarding their incurrence during active duty.
- Dismissed
The Board dismissed the appeals for service connection of various conditions as they were premature, and denied service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II and a migraine headache disability.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for arthritis, a right hip disability, and a left hip disability. The 10 percent ratings for the left and right wrist disabilities were also denied.
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