The Veteran's lumbar degenerative spine disability is rated at 40 percent, and his IVDS affecting the right lower extremity prior to February 23, 2016 is rated at 20 percent. The rating for IVDS affecting the left lower extremity remains at 20 percent.
The deciding factor: The VA examiner found that the Veteran's lumbar spine disability more nearly approximated a limitation of forward flexion to 35 degrees, which meets the criteria for a 40 percent rating under the General Rating Formula for Diseases and Injuries of the Spine. The right lower extremity IVDS was rated at 20 percent as it had not resulted in incapacitating episodes requiring bed rest prescribed by a physician during the past 12 months. The left lower extremity IVDS remained at 20 percent due to lack of moderately severe incomplete paralysis.
- Claimed conditions
- lumbar degenerative spine disability, intervertebral disc syndrome (IVDS) affecting the right lower extremity, intervertebral disc syndrome (IVDS) affecting the left lower extremity
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 40%
- Decision date
- June 26, 2018
- Citation
- 18114139
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 18114139.
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
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