The Veteran's low back disability is rated at 40 percent, effective July 11, 2018. The cervical spine disability remains at a 30 percent rating.
The deciding factor: The VA examinations showed significant limitation of motion due to pain during flare-ups, warranting the highest possible ratings under the applicable criteria.
- Claimed conditions
- Degenerative disc disease of the thoracolumbar spine (low back disability), Degenerative disc disease of the cervical spine (cervical spine disability)
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 40%
- Decision date
- July 11, 2018
- Citation
- 18117479
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 18117479.
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.
- Denied
The Board denied the veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for service connection for low back, left ankle, and bilateral knee disabilities.
- Denied
The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his lumbar spine disability was denied, while he received a 30 percent rating for his cervical spine disability effective February 9, 2011.
- Denied
The Veteran's low back disability is currently rated at 10 percent, effective January 5, 2007. The claim for an increased rating has been denied.
- Denied
The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected lumbar myositis, psychoneurosis and conversion hysteria, residuals of shrapnel wounds of the left thigh and pelvis with retained foreign bodies and scars, and residuals of shell fragment wounds of the right thigh and left leg. The veteran was also denied entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities.
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