The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his lumbar spine disability was granted, and he is now rated at 20 percent. The TDIU claim was denied.
The deciding factor: The VA examinations showed that the Veteran met the criteria for a 20% rating based on limitation of motion, but pain alone did not warrant an even higher rating as it does not constitute functional loss under VA regulations.
- Claimed conditions
- mild degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 20%
- Decision date
- August 18, 2017
- Citation
- 1734052
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 1734052.
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.
- Partly granted
The Veteran's claim for service connection for irritable bowel syndrome has been granted.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for mild degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine (claimed as chronic back pain) is being remanded to determine if her MOS as an Ammunition Specialist caused her current condition.
- Partly granted
The Veteran's back and left ankle disabilities do not meet the criteria for higher ratings, but his service-connected disabilities have prevented him from securing or following substantially gainful employment.
- Granted
The Veteran is granted a total rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) effective September 25, 2019 due to service-connected disabilities.
- Denied
The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unable to obtain and maintain substantially gainful employment, thus the TDIU claim is denied.
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