The Veteran's low back strain with osteoarthritic changes was granted a 40% rating from October 16, 2018. Prior to December 29, 2010, the condition warranted a 10% rating and from December 29, 2010 to October 16, 2018, it warranted a 20% rating.
The deciding factor: The VA examination showed flexion limited to 15 degrees, which meets the criteria for a 40% rating under the General Rating Formula for Diseases and Injuries of the Spine.
- Claimed conditions
- Low back strain with osteoarthritic changes
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 40%
- Decision date
- January 10, 2019
- Citation
- 19102661
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 2,642 · Granted: 19% (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 19102661.
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
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