The Veteran's low back disability was rated at 40 percent effective August 6, 2014. The appeal is denied as the rating does not meet the criteria for a higher evaluation.
The deciding factor: The VA determined that the Veteran's thoracolumbar spine limitation of motion did not warrant an increased rating prior to August 6, 2014 and from August 6, 2014 onwards, his disability was rated at 40 percent based on the criteria for a 40 percent evaluation.
- Claimed conditions
- Degenerative changes of the lumbar spine (low back disability)
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 40%
- Decision date
- August 17, 2016
- Citation
- 1632648
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 1632648.
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.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's low back disability is granted a 30 rating, while the issues of service connection for right ankle disability and radiculopathy are remanded.
- Granted
- Denied
The Veteran's low back degenerative changes are currently evaluated at 20 percent, but the evidence does not show that his forward flexion is limited to 30 degrees or less. The claim for a higher rating is denied.
- 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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