The Veteran's service-connected intervertebral disc syndrome and degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine are currently rated at 20 percent, but do not meet criteria for a higher rating as there is no evidence of ankylosis or limitation of motion to 30 degrees or less.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's disability does not meet the criteria for an increased evaluation under the General Rating Formula for Diseases and Injuries of the Spine (General Formula) or the Formula for Rating IVDS Based on Incapacitating Episodes due to lack of evidence of unfavorable ankylosis, favorable ankylosis, or incapacitating episodes.
- Claimed conditions
- intervertebral disc syndrome (IVDS), degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 20%
- Decision date
- July 1, 2019
- Citation
- 19151202
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 2,776 · Granted: 24% (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 19151202.
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