The Veteran's lumbar spine disability is rated at 40 percent for the entire initial rating period, effective April 17, 2008. The Board also granted entitlement to TDIU due to service-connected lumbar spine disability.
The deciding factor: The evidence showed that the Veteran’s lumbar spine disability resulted in painful limitation of forward flexion to 30 degrees or less without ankylosis or incapacitating episodes having a total duration of at least four weeks in the previous 12 months, which met the criteria for a 40 percent rating.
- Claimed conditions
- Spinal stenosis, Degenerative arthritis, Intervertebral disc syndrome (IVDS), Spondylothesis
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 40%
- Decision date
- March 14, 2019
- Citation
- 19118664
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 2,421 · 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 19118664.
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 Veteran's claim for a higher rating for intervertebral disc syndrome (IVDS) is being remanded due to an error in the initial decision process. The AOJ needs to provide notice of his right to a hearing before issuing a final decision.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's claim for service connection for a back disability is being remanded due to duty-to-assist errors and the need for a VA examination.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the claims for an initial disability rating in excess of 10 percent for the lumbar spine disability prior to October 11, 2022 and since December 1, 2022. The Veteran's claim is currently rated at 10 percent under Diagnostic Code 5242.
- Granted
The Board has determined that the Veteran's low back disability, diagnosed as degenerative arthritis and a lumbosacral strain, is at least as likely as not related to his active service. As such, the claim for service connection is granted.
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