The Veteran's lumbar spinal stenosis has been found to warrant a higher initial rating of 40 percent, as it meets the criteria for ankylosis in the thoracolumbar spine.
The deciding factor: The VA examination revealed forward flexion limited to 30 degrees or less and no unfavorable ankylosis, but the Veteran's symptoms met the criteria for ankylosis due to chronic orthopedic manifestations.
- Claimed conditions
- lumbar spinal stenosis
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 40%
- Decision date
- February 17, 2012
- Citation
- 1206219
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 1206219.
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 lumbar spine disability, left hip disability, right hip disability, left lower extremity radiculopathy, and right lower extremity radiculopathy as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected left total knee replacement.
- Denied
The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for lumbar spinal stenosis, spondylolisthesis, and radiculopathy of the left lower extremity as there is no persuasive evidence that these conditions began during or were caused by his military service.
- Denied
The Veteran's claim for service connection for lumbar spinal stenosis has been denied as there is no persuasive evidence of a current diagnosis.,Her claim for an initial compensable rating for chronic sinusitis was also denied due to lack of sufficient evidence showing the required symptoms.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the case for a more detailed and thoroughly explained medical opinion regarding whether the Veteran requires personal care services, supervision or protection based on neurological impairment, or regular extensive instruction to function in daily life.
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