The Veteran's lumbar spine disability is rated at 40 percent effective August 17, 2017. TDIU benefits are granted.
The deciding factor: The VA examination showed forward flexion of the thoracolumbar spine limited to 30 degrees, meeting the criteria for a 40 percent rating under the General Rating Formula for Diseases and Injuries of the Spine.
- Claimed conditions
- Degenerative Joint Disease of the Lumbosacral Spine with Intervertebral Disc Syndrome, Bowel Incontinence
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 40%
- Decision date
- June 29, 2018
- Citation
- 18115050
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 18115050.
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 is granted earlier effective dates of April 1, 2016 for SMC based on the need for regular aid and attendance, loss of use of both feet, and under 38 U.S.C. § 1114(o) and (r)(1).,These awards are in full grant of the benefit sought as the Veteran's attorney explicitly requested an effective date in April 2016.
- Denied
The Veteran's prostate cancer with voiding dysfunction is rated at 20 percent, and a separate 10 percent rating for bowel incontinence is granted. The Veteran's prostate cancer symptoms do not warrant an increased rating, but his bowel incontinence is found to be consistent with the criteria for a 10 percent rating.
- Granted
The Veteran is found to be eligible for enrollment in the PCAFC program due to his severe and complex medical conditions, which require personal care services.
- Partly granted
The Veteran's bowel incontinence was granted a 30% rating from May 11, 2016 to February 22, 2017.,A higher than 30% rating for bowel incontinence is denied from February 22, 2017 to April 6, 2021.
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