The Veteran's low back disability has been manifested by flexion of the thoracolumbar spine of 30 degrees or less, and did not manifest in unfavorable ankylosis of the thoracolumbar spine or entire spine or incapacitating episodes due to intervertebral disc syndrome that required bed rest prescribed by a physician and treatment by a physician. The Veteran is entitled to a 20 percent rating for his low back disability.
The deciding factor: The VA examination reports indicated that the Veteran's flexion of the thoracolumbar spine was limited to 30 degrees, which meets the criteria for a 20 percent rating under the General Rating Formula for Diseases and Injuries of the Spine.
- Claimed conditions
- lumbar spondylosis, arthritis
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 20%
- Decision date
- September 23, 2016
- Citation
- 1637440
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 1637440.
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 Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for tinnitus, arthritis, and memory loss. The decision found no evidence linking these conditions to his military service.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death and entitlement to DIC due to a failure to obtain a medical opinion prior to the rating decision on appeal regarding whether the Veteran's arthritis was related to his period of active service, and if so, whether it contributed to his death.
- Granted
The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for a lumbar disorder, diagnosed as lumbar spondylosis and L3-L4 disc herniation status post hemilaminectomy (s/p) right L3-4 hemilaminectomy with diskectomy. The Board found that there is sufficient evidence to establish a nexus between the Veteran's current disability and his military service.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has decided to remand the case due to a duty-to-assist error and the need for clarification of the Veteran's service periods. The Veteran is diagnosed with lumbosacral strain and lumbar spondylosis, and the claim will be reconsidered based on new evidence.
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