The Veteran's lumbar spine disability is currently rated at 10 percent, and his IBS prior to June 2, 2014 was also rated at 10 percent. However, from June 2, 2014, the rating for IBS has been increased to 30 percent.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's lumbar spine disability does not meet or approximate the criteria for a higher (20%) rating under any applicable diagnostic code due to lack of limitation in range of motion. For IBS, prior to June 2, 2014, there were no symptoms severe enough to warrant a higher than 10 percent rating. From that date, the evidence does not show more than moderate symptoms.
- Claimed conditions
- Degenerative Disc Disease (DDD) of the lumbar spine
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 10%
- Decision date
- March 11, 2015
- Citation
- 1510199
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 1510199.
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.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has determined that there is a need for additional medical examination and opinion to address the Veteran's claim of service connection for a back disability, including DDD of the lumbar spine. The current VA opinions are deemed inadequate due to their failure to consider the Veteran's lay reports of in-service injury and continuous symptomatology since service.
- Denied
The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine and bilateral hearing loss, do not render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.
- Denied
The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine was denied as his symptoms did not meet or approximate the criteria for a higher evaluation.
- Granted
The Board has granted service connection for OSA as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected DDD of the lumbar spine, finding that his service-connected condition aggravated his nonservice-connected OSA.
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