The Veteran's lumbar spine degenerative changes are currently rated at 20 percent, effective March 14, 2013. The rating is maintained as the evidence does not show that the disability warrants a higher evaluation.
The deciding factor: The VA examinations and medical records do not support an increase in the rating beyond 20 percent for the lumbar spine degenerative changes.
- Claimed conditions
- lumbar spine degenerative changes
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- August 6, 2015
- Citation
- 1533578
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. Search VA.gov for the original decision (opens in a new tab) using citation 1533578.
What this means for you
A grant means the Board allowed the benefit or issue identified in this decision. Review the original order: other issues in the same appeal may have a different outcome, and this decision does not predict another claim.
What you can do next
Use your own notice and decision stage. A remanded issue is not a final court-appealable denial. VA review guidance and CAVC filing instructions (U.S. federal; reviewed October 7, 2026).
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for cervical spine degenerative changes, left shoulder degenerative changes, lumbar spine degenerative changes, and right shoulder osteoarthritis due to a pre-decisional duty to assist error. The Veteran was not afforded VA examinations for these conditions.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's appeal for an increased rating higher than 40 percent for a back disability, as the evidence did not support a finding that his symptomatology more nearly approximated unfavorable ankylosis of the entire thoracolumbar spine or incapacitating episodes requiring physician-prescribed bed rest.
- Whole decision: Partly granted
The Board granted service connection for lumbar spine degenerative changes as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral lower extremities, but denied service connection for a right shoulder disorder.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's claim for TDIU is remanded due to the need for additional development of his medical records, particularly those from Community Care providers and non-VA providers received by the VA but not associated with the claims file.
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