The Board granted a rating of 20 percent for the Veteran's lumbosacral spine DDD, effective from June 2013. The appeal regarding entitlement to TDIU on an extraschedular basis is addressed in the REMAND portion.
The deciding factor: The May 2013 VA examination report showed forward flexion of the thoracolumbar spine greater than 30 degrees but not greater than 60 degrees, with muscle spasm or guarding severe enough to result in an abnormal gait or abnormal spinal contour. This met the criteria for a 20 percent rating under DC 5242.
- Claimed conditions
- lumbosacral spine degenerative disc disease (DDD)
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 20%
- Decision date
- August 18, 2015
- Citation
- 1535303
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 1535303.
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.
- Dismissed
The appeal is dismissed due to the Veteran's death during the pendency of the appeal.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for right and left shoulder disorders, cervical spine disorder, and a rating in excess of 40 percent for lumbosacral spine degenerative disc disease.
- Denied
The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for service connection of a low back disability was denied as there were no pending, unadjudicated claims prior to October 25, 2021.
- Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a neck condition and migraine headaches, as well as his increased rating claims for left foot pes planus with DJD of the left great toe and right foot pes planus with DJD of the right great toe. The lumbosacral spine degenerative disc disease was also denied.
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