The Veteran's back disability is rated at 20 percent, and no higher. The rating is based on forward flexion limited to 30 degrees.,The Veteran’s degenerative arthritis of the right hand and left hand are each rated at 10 percent.
The deciding factor: Forward flexion of the thoracolumbar spine was found to be limited to 30 degrees, meeting the criteria for a 40 percent rating under Diagnostic Code 5237.
- Claimed conditions
- Degenerative arthritis of the right hand, Degenerative arthritis of the left hand, Back disability (lumbar spine)
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 40%
- Decision date
- September 5, 2018
- Citation
- 18132120
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 18132120.
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Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Dismissed
The Veteran's appeal for an initial rating in excess of 50 percent for recurrent depressive disorder with unspecified anxiety disorder is dismissed. The Veteran's appeal for a higher rating for his back disability from December 17, 2020, is granted to 40 percent.
- Partly granted
The Board granted an effective date of October 27, 2021, for the award of service connection for residual scar status post squamous cell carcinoma but denied an earlier effective date for back disability.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for all claimed conditions as there was no evidence of a current disability, in-service incurrence or aggravation, and no nexus between the current disabilities and military service.
- Granted
The Board granted service connection for a right knee disability, right hip disability, right hand disability, and right wrist disability on a direct basis.
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