The Board granted a 40 percent rating for the Veteran's service-connected lumbar spine degenerative disc and joint disease effective February 15, 2015. The previous initial 10 percent rating was maintained.
The deciding factor: The VA examination revealed that from February 10, 2015, the Veteran's back condition manifested as limitation of flexion to 30 degrees without additional functional impairment or incapacitating episodes, which is consistent with a 40 percent evaluation under Diagnostic Code 5243.
- Claimed conditions
- lumbar spine degenerative disc and joint disease
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 40%
- Decision date
- October 23, 2015
- Citation
- 1545350
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 1545350.
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.
- Denied
The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for his lumbar spine degenerative disc and joint disease from July 23, 2009 was denied as the disability did not meet the criteria for a higher rating due to unfavorable ankylosis of the entire thoracolumbar spine.
- Denied
The Board has determined that the Veteran's lumbar spine degenerative disc and joint disease does not warrant a rating higher than 20 percent, as his forward flexion of the thoracolumbar spine exceeds 30 degrees.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's erectile dysfunction is being remanded for a VA examination to determine if it is caused or aggravated by his service-connected lumbar spine degenerative disc and joint disease and/or lentigo malignant melanoma.
- Granted
The Veteran's lumbar spine degenerative disc and joint disease is rated at 40 percent since July 23, 2009. The appeal for a higher rating remains pending.
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