The Veteran's lumbar DJD is rated at 20 percent effective January 31, 2014. The Board found that the disability picture most nearly approximates a 20 percent rating.
The deciding factor: The Board determined that the objective medical evidence and the Veteran’s statements regarding his symptomatology of his lumbar DJD show a disability picture that most nearly approximates an assignment of a 20 percent disability rating from January 31, 2014.
- Claimed conditions
- lumbar degenerative joint disease (DJD)
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- June 7, 2019
- Citation
- 19144184
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 2,088 · Granted: 33% (granted or partly granted, in the indexed 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. Read the original VA decision (opens in a new tab) using citation 19144184.
What this means for you
A grant means the Board allowed the benefit or issue identified in this decision. Review the original order: other issues in the same appeal may have a different outcome, and this decision does not predict another claim.
What you can do next
Use your own notice and decision stage. A remanded issue is not a final court-appealable denial. VA review guidance and CAVC filing instructions (U.S. federal; reviewed October 7, 2026).
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Whole decision: Partly granted
The Board granted an increased rating of 40 percent for lumbar degenerative joint disease but remanded the claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability.
- Whole decision: Partly granted
The Veteran's service-connected back disability was granted a 40 percent evaluation, but no higher, for the entire period on appeal.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Veteran's claims for service connection for residuals of meningitis, increased ratings for peripheral neuropathy, and sleep apnea have been denied. The Board has also remanded several other issues related to the Veteran's disabilities.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's claim for service connection for sleep apnea has been reopened. The Board finds that a remand is warranted to obtain missing STRs and private treatment records, as well as to schedule VA examinations for the left upper and lower extremity radiculopathy and cervical and lumbar disabilities.
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