The Veteran's low back strain with degenerative disc disease was productive of painful flexion beginning at 45 degrees until December 23, 2010; when forward flexion was further limited to 30 degrees. The disability has not been productive of ankylosis at any time during the appeal period and the Veteran has not been prescribed bedrest secondary to his service-connected back disability at any time during the appeal period.
The deciding factor: The VA examiner found that forward flexion was limited to 30 degrees, which meets the criteria for a 20 percent rating under Diagnostic Code 5237.
- Claimed conditions
- Low back strain with degenerative disc disease
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- May 31, 2016
- Citation
- 1621650
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. Search VA.gov for the original decision (opens in a new tab) using citation 1621650.
What this means for you
A grant means the Board allowed the benefit or issue identified in this decision. Review the original order: other issues in the same appeal may have a different outcome, and this decision does not predict another claim.
What you can do next
Use your own notice and decision stage. A remanded issue is not a final court-appealable denial. VA review guidance and CAVC filing instructions (U.S. federal; reviewed October 7, 2026).
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings due to insufficient retrospective medical opinions addressing additional functional loss during flareups and with repeated use over time. The VA needs to obtain new addendum opinions for both cervical spine and low back disabilities.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not render him unemployable prior to May 21, 2012. The Board found that the evidence did not support his claim for a TDIU on an extraschedular basis.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's low back disability is being remanded for a new evaluation to determine its current severity.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Veteran's sciatica, right lower extremity is now rated at 40 percent effective July 7, 2021. The low back strain with degenerative disc disease remains rated at 40 percent. The rating for sciatica prior to December 2, 2019 was denied.
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