The Veteran's lumbar spine disability is rated at 20 percent, the maximum available under Diagnostic Code 5242. The appeal is denied as there is no evidence of forward flexion limited to 30 degrees or less, ankylosis, or any physician prescribed bed rest.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's lumbar spine disability does not meet the criteria for a higher rating under the General Rating Formula for Diseases and Injuries of the Spine as his range of motion is within normal limits with no evidence of forward flexion limited to 30 degrees or less, ankylosis, or any physician prescribed bed rest.
- Claimed conditions
- lumbar spondylolysis, lumbar spondylolisthesis with degenerative disc disease and degenerative joint disease
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 20%
- Decision date
- November 17, 2015
- Citation
- 1548280
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 1548280.
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 service-connected lumbar spondylolysis is found to be the primary cause of his obstructive sleep apnea, and he is granted service connection for OSA as secondary to this condition. The effective date remains April 28, 2000.
- Granted
The Veteran's claim for service connection for lumbar spondylolysis and lumbosacral strain is granted. The Board found that the current disability is related to his military service.
- Denied
The Veteran's lumbar disability was rated at 20 percent disabling, and the Board found that this rating is not in accordance with the criteria for an evaluation in excess of 20 percent.
- Granted
The Veteran's claim for an effective date prior to April 30, 2015 for the grant of service connection for spondylosis was denied. The claim for a higher initial rating for spondylosis (lumbar spondylolysis) was also denied.
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