The Veteran's low back IVDS and arthritis are currently rated at 20 percent, but the Board denied an increased rating as his disability does not meet or approximate criteria for a higher rating.
The deciding factor: The Veteran’s disability did not result in incapacitating episodes of at least six weeks per year, nor did it cause functional loss during flare-ups or upon repeated use that reduced range of motion to 30 degrees or less. The current 20 percent rating is the maximum available under Diagnostic Code 5243.
- Claimed conditions
- Arthritis, IVDS (Intervertebral Disc Syndrome)
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 20%
- Decision date
- March 18, 2019
- Citation
- A19000199
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 2,156 · Granted: 29% (granted or partly granted, in the vetted decisions on this site)
Judge attribution: 2025 complete; earlier years partial.
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 A19000199.
What this means for you
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Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Dismissed
The Veteran's appeal for service connection regarding cervical strain with IVDS, spinal fusion, and spinal stenosis was dismissed because the Veteran died during the pendency of the appeal.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has decided to remand the case due to a duty-to-assist error in previous examinations, requiring additional information on right shoulder ROM measurements without medication effects.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has determined that new and relevant evidence was submitted to warrant readjudication of the Veteran's claims for service connection for a back disability, including degenerative arthritis and IVDS, as well as bilateral pes planus. The claims are now remanded for further development.
- Denied
The Veteran's lumbosacral strain with degenerative arthritis, herniated disc, IVDS and spinal stenosis is rated at 40 percent since August 19, 2020. The appeal period did not show unfavorable ankylosis or incapacitating episodes of IVDS.
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