The Veteran's low back disability did not meet the criteria for a higher rating prior to October 17, 2014, and after that date it has not resulted in forward flexion of the thoracolumbar spine of 30 degrees or less.
The deciding factor: The evidence does not show that the Veteran's low back disability met the criteria for a higher rating under the General Rating Formula for Diseases and Injuries of the Spine prior to October 17, 2014, nor has it since then.
- Claimed conditions
- lumbar strain (low back disability)
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 10%
- Decision date
- December 15, 2014
- Citation
- 1455157
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 1455157.
What this means for you
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What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Granted
The Veteran's low back disability is granted a rating of 40 percent effective August 31, 2018. The right shoulder disability is granted a rating of 40 percent effective August 31, 2018.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for lumbar strain, right knee patellofemoral arthritis, and left knee patellofemoral arthritis due to procedural errors in obtaining information about the qualifications of a VA examiner and inadequate medical opinions.
- Denied
The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for his low back and right shoulder disabilities due to his failure to appear for scheduled VA examinations without good cause.
- Partly granted
The Board denied an initial rating more than 20 percent for the Veteran's low back disability and granted a 20 percent rating, but no higher, for left lower extremity radiculopathy (sciatic nerve).
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