The Veteran's service-connected DJD of the lumbar spine is rated at 20 percent, which is denied as it does not meet the criteria for a higher rating.
The deciding factor: The evidence shows that the Veteran’s forward flexion of the thoracolumbar spine was limited to 50 degrees or less, but did not reach the level required for an increased rating under the General Rating Formula for Diseases and Injuries of the Spine. The Board found no other factors warranting a higher rating.
- Claimed conditions
- Degenerative Joint Disease (DJD) of the Lumbar Spine
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 20%
- Decision date
- January 31, 2019
- Citation
- 19107300
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 2,200 · Granted: 43% (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 19107300.
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Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Denied
The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his lumbar spine DJD is denied. He currently receives a 40 percent disability rating, effective November 7, 2023.,The Veteran's sciatic radiculopathy of the left and right lower extremities are each rated at 40 percent disabling, effective November 7, 2023.
- Denied
The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his lumbar spine DJD is denied. The Board found that the evidence did not show limitation of forward flexion to 30 degrees or less, nor favorable ankylosis.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his service-connected lumbar spine disability was denied. The Board found that the evidence did not meet the criteria for a higher rating prior to June 29, 2021, or since then. The issue of increased rating for hemorrhoids is remanded.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's DJD of the lumbar spine resulted in symptoms causing abnormal spinal contour or gait, with forward flexion of the thoracolumbar spine greater than 30 degrees but not greater than 60 degrees and a combined range of motion not greater than 120 degrees. The Board granted a 20 percent rating for this period.
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