The Veteran's low back disability has been rated at 10 percent, the lowest available rating under the applicable diagnostic code. The VA determined that his range of motion did not meet the criteria for a higher rating based on limitation of motion or ankylosis.
The deciding factor: The VA found that the Veteran's forward flexion was greater than 60 degrees with no additional functional impairment due to pain, flare-ups, ankylosis, or incapacitating episodes. The next highest rating requires less range of motion and/or more severe symptoms.
- Claimed conditions
- Degenerative Joint Disease of the Lumbar Spine
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 10%
- Decision date
- January 30, 2018
- Citation
- 1805882
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 1805882.
What this means for you
A denial is a starting point, not the end of the road. You can see why this claim fell short — and, if you are still inside the one-year window, the appeal lanes that may remain open to you.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Partly granted
The Board denied service connection for chronic fatigue syndrome, gastroesophageal reflux disease, and chronic sinusitis. However, it granted an increased disability rating of 30 percent for left upper extremity radiculopathy.
- Partly granted
The Veteran's GERD was granted a 60 percent disability rating, and the June 15, 2020 VA Form 10182 for service connection claims was accepted as timely due to good cause shown.
- Denied
The Board denied a higher disability rating for the Veteran's lumbar spine disability, finding insufficient evidence to support an evaluation in excess of 10 percent.
- Granted
The Veteran's low back disability was restored to a 20 percent rating effective February 24, 2022. The other issues were denied.
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