The Veteran's claims for service connection for a dental disability, increased rating for traumatic arthritis of the lumbar spine, and TDIU were denied. The Veteran was granted a 20 percent rating for his traumatic arthritis of the lumbar spine effective August 8, 2014.
The deciding factor: The evidence did not meet the criteria for service connection for a dental disability due to lack of current disability. For the period prior to August 8, 2014, the Veteran's traumatic arthritis of the lumbar spine was manifested by forward flexion to 90 degrees and a combined range of motion of 240 degrees with no additional functional loss. From August 8, 2014, to June 17, 2015, the Veteran had forward flexion of the thoracolumbar spine to 40 degrees when accounting for pain, without ankylosis or intervertebral disc syndrome (IVDS). As of June 18, 2015, the Veteran's traumatic arthritis of the lumbar spine resulted in forward flexion of the thoracolumbar spine to 15 degrees with IVDS and incapacitating episodes less than 2 weeks duration during the past year. The Veteran was not granted a higher rating for his paresthesia of the left lower lip.
- Claimed conditions
- Traumatic arthritis of the lumbar spine, Paresthesia of the left lower lip
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 20%
- Decision date
- February 25, 2016
- Citation
- 1607256
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 1607256.
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