The Veteran's degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine is granted a 40 percent rating, effective from May 30, 2008. Right and left lower extremity radiculopathy associated with this condition are also granted a 10 percent rating each, effective from May 30, 2008. Bilateral hearing loss prior to June 22, 2017 is denied, but granted at 20 percent thereafter.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine more closely approximated flexion to 30 degrees with consideration of functional impairment due to flare-ups, warranting a 40 percent rating under the General Rating Formula for Diseases and Injuries of the Spine. Right and left lower extremity radiculopathy were also granted as moderately severe incomplete paralysis of the sciatic nerve.
- Claimed conditions
- Degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 40%
- Decision date
- June 19, 2018
- Citation
- 18111727
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 18111727.
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 Veteran's claim for increased ratings for degenerative arthritis of the cervical spine and lumbar spine was granted with effective dates of May 13, 2019.
- Granted
The Veteran's degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine was diagnosed during service and has continued since then. The Board granted service connection for this condition based on continuity of symptomatology.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to inadequate examinations and the need for a retrospective opinion regarding the severity of his service-connected lumbar spine disability.
- Granted
The Board has determined that the Veteran's low back disability, diagnosed as degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine, is related to service and granted service connection for this condition.
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