The Board granted a 40 percent rating for the Veteran's service-connected lumbar spine disability, effective March 15, 2010. The Veteran was also awarded separate ratings of 10 percent for his left and right lower extremity radiculopathy.
The deciding factor: The VA examiner found that the Veteran had forward flexion of the thoracolumbar spine to 30 degrees or less, which met the criteria for a 40 percent rating under the General Rating Formula for Diseases and Injuries of the Spine. The Board also granted separate ratings for his left and right lower extremity radiculopathy.
- Claimed conditions
- chronic neck disability, degenerative joint disease (DJD) of the thoracolumbar spine, lumbar radiculopathy
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 40%
- Decision date
- August 1, 2017
- Citation
- 1730588
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 1730588.
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 Board has granted service connection for a lumbar spine disability, including degenerative arthritis and IVDS. The decision is based on the Veteran's in-service injury during active duty and his continuous symptoms since then.
- Granted
The Veteran's lumbar radiculopathy and diabetic peripheral neuropathy of the right lower extremity are rated at 20 percent effective November 6, 2024.
- Denied
The Board found the reduction in disability evaluation from 40% to 20% was improper and void ab initio due to inadequate examination for reduction.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has determined that a remand is necessary to obtain an addendum medical opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's back disability, specifically addressing whether there was aggravation during service and if the lumbar spondylosis, lumbar radiculopathy, sacroiliitis, and failed back surgery syndrome had onset in service.
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