The Veteran's DJD of the lumbar spine is currently rated at 20 percent since June 29, 2011. The effective date for service connection of bilateral radiculopathy of the lower extremities has been set at May 8, 2014.,No increased rating is warranted prior to March 17, 2010 and from March 17, 2010 to June 29, 2011. The Veteran's radiculopathy of the lower extremities has been rated at 20 percent since May 8, 2014.
The deciding factor: The medical evidence does not support a higher rating for DJD of the lumbar spine prior to March 17, 2010 and from March 17, 2010 to June 29, 2011. The Veteran's radiculopathy has been rated at 20 percent since May 8, 2014.
- Claimed conditions
- Degenerative Joint Disease (DJD) of the Lumbar Spine, Bilateral Radiculopathy of the Lower Extremities
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 20%
- Decision date
- January 4, 2018
- Citation
- 1800385
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 1800385.
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Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Denied
The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his lumbar spine DJD is denied. He currently receives a 40 percent disability rating, effective November 7, 2023.,The Veteran's sciatic radiculopathy of the left and right lower extremities are each rated at 40 percent disabling, effective November 7, 2023.
- Denied
The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his lumbar spine DJD is denied. The Board found that the evidence did not show limitation of forward flexion to 30 degrees or less, nor favorable ankylosis.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his service-connected lumbar spine disability was denied. The Board found that the evidence did not meet the criteria for a higher rating prior to June 29, 2021, or since then. The issue of increased rating for hemorrhoids is remanded.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's DJD of the lumbar spine resulted in symptoms causing abnormal spinal contour or gait, with forward flexion of the thoracolumbar spine greater than 30 degrees but not greater than 60 degrees and a combined range of motion not greater than 120 degrees. The Board granted a 20 percent rating for this period.
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