The Veteran's initial claim for a 10 percent disability rating for his low back disability was granted effective February 12, 2007. The rating was increased to 40 percent from February 23, 2010.
The deciding factor: The VA examiner found that the Veteran had forward flexion of the lumbar spine to 30 degrees with pain, which warranted a 40 percent disability rating under the General Rating Formula for Diseases and Injuries of the Spine.
- Claimed conditions
- lumbar spine degenerative disc disease with degenerative arthritis
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 10%
- Decision date
- January 22, 2019
- Citation
- 19104855
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 remands the claims for a rating in excess of 10 percent and 20 percent for cervical spine spondylosis and lumbar spine degenerative disc disease with degenerative arthritis, as an adequate medical opinion has not been obtained.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the issues of increased ratings for cervical spine and thoracolumbar spine spondylosis for additional development.
- Granted
The Board granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, effective from the date of the February 2025 rating decision.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claim for a medical examination to determine if the Veteran's current neck strain is related to his in-service activities.
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