The Veteran's degenerative joint disease of the lumbar spine with IVDS was found to warrant a rating in excess of 40 percent from July 29, 2014.
The deciding factor: The VA examiner noted that the Veteran had forward flexion of the thoracolumbar spine to 30 degrees or less and required bedrest prescribed by a physician for at least 6 weeks in a 12-month period, meeting the criteria for a 40 percent rating under Diagnostic Code 5243.
- Claimed conditions
- Degenerative Joint Disease of the Lumbar Spine with IVDS
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 40%
- Decision date
- March 28, 2018
- Citation
- 1819207
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 1819207.
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.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate examination and failure to consider certain evidence. The Veteran's back disability is currently rated at 10 percent, but a higher rating is sought.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's appeal for a higher rating for PTSD is remanded due to the need for additional VA treatment records.,The Veteran's appeal for a higher rating for Degenerative Joint Disease of the Lumbar Spine with IVDS is also remanded due to the need for additional VA treatment records.
- Denied
The Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 60 percent for degenerative joint disease of the lumbar spine with IVDS is denied. The current 60 percent rating represents the maximum available under Diagnostic Code 5243, as unfavorable ankylosis of the entire spine is not shown.
- 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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