The Veteran's lumbar spine disability is currently rated as 20 percent disabling due to chronic pain resulting in limited forward flexion. The Board finds that the criteria for a higher rating are not met.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's flexion was at least 50 degrees, which does not meet the criteria for a higher rating under DC 5243.
- Claimed conditions
- lumbar degenerative arthritis, degenerative disc disease with instability at L4-5, spinal stenosis
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 20%
- Decision date
- October 19, 2010
- Citation
- 1039038
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 1039038.
What this means for you
A denial is a starting point, not the end of the road. You can see why this claim fell short — and, if you are still inside the one-year window, the appeal lanes that may remain open to you.
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 service connection for spinal stenosis, peripheral neuropathy, and bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy to correct pre-decisional duty to assist errors.
- Granted
The Board granted service connection for lumbar spine degenerative arthritis, degenerative disc disease, lumbosacral strain, and spinal stenosis based on the Veteran's in-service back injury and chronicity of symptoms.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the case for further development and readjudication of the veteran's claims.
- Granted
The Board granted service connection for lumbar degenerative arthritis and right lower extremity radiculopathy as secondary to the lumbar degenerative arthritis.
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