The Veteran's back disability has been characterized by limited range of motion, guarding and pain upon examination. The Board grants a 20 percent rating for the Veteran's service-connected degenerative arthritis and intervertebral disc syndrome.
The deciding factor: The evidence shows forward flexion of the thoracolumbar spine greater than 30 degrees but not greater than 60 degrees, combined range of motion not greater than 120 degrees, muscle spasm or guarding severe enough to result in an abnormal gait or spinal contour such as scoliosis, reversed lordosis or abnormal kyphosis.
- Claimed conditions
- Degenerative arthritis and intervertebral disc syndrome
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 20%
- Decision date
- April 5, 2016
- Citation
- 1613737
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 1613737.
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 initial rating for lumbar spine disability and bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy is denied. The Veteran's back condition has been rated at 10 percent since June 30, 2017.
- Denied
The Veteran's increased disability ratings for his service-connected back disabilities (degenerative arthritis and intervertebral disc syndrome, as well as degenerative disc disease and facet arthritis of the cervical spine) have been denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating under either the General Rating Formula or the IVDS Rating Formula.
- Granted
Effective August 26, 2020, the Veteran's degenerative arthritis and intervertebral disc syndrome was rated at 20 percent.,Effective August 26, 2020, the Veteran's radiculopathy of the right lower extremity was rated at 20 percent.,Effective August 26, 2020, the Veteran's radiculopathy of the left lower extremity was rated at 40 percent.
- Denied
The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected lumbar myositis, psychoneurosis and conversion hysteria, residuals of shrapnel wounds of the left thigh and pelvis with retained foreign bodies and scars, and residuals of shell fragment wounds of the right thigh and left leg. The veteran was also denied entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities.
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