The Board found that the Veteran's lumbar spine disability warrants a 20 percent rating, as his forward flexion was greater than 30 degrees but not more than 60 degrees. The reduction in evaluation of right knee from 10% to 0% was proper and restored the 10% rating for the right knee. The Veteran's claim for TDIU is granted.
The deciding factor: The VA examinations showed that the Veteran’s lumbar spine disability allowed him to have forward flexion greater than 30 degrees but not more than 60 degrees, meeting the criteria for a 20 percent rating under the General Rating Formula. The reduction in evaluation of right knee was proper as there was no substantial improvement and the Veteran's claim for TDIU is granted.
- Claimed conditions
- Degenerative Disc Disease (DDD) of the Lumbar Spine, Degenerative Joint Disease (DJD) of the Lumbar Spine
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 20%
- Decision date
- May 18, 2016
- Citation
- 1620310
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 1620310.
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.
- Granted
The Veteran's service-connected lumbar spine and associated bilateral lower extremity radiculopathies rendered him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment from June 30, 2006, onward. The Board granted a 20% disability rating for the period on appeal (not including any periods of convalescence) due to severe muscle spasm and guarding resulting in abnormal gait or spinal contour.
- Denied
The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his lumbar spine DJD is denied. He currently receives a 40 percent disability rating, effective November 7, 2023.,The Veteran's sciatic radiculopathy of the left and right lower extremities are each rated at 40 percent disabling, effective November 7, 2023.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has determined that the AOJ's decision denying service connection for OSA, claimed as secondary to service-connected psychiatric disorder and DDD of the lumbar spine, is flawed due to a failure to consider whether obesity was an intermediate step in the development of OSA. The case is being remanded to obtain an addendum medical opinion.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's PTSD symptoms more nearly approximate the criteria for a 70 percent rating, warranting an increased rating.,Service connection for lumbar degenerative disc disease (DDD) and degenerative arthritis is remanded due to insufficient evidence in the record.,The Veteran's current employment status does not affect his entitlement to service connection for DDD and degenerative arthritis.
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