The Veteran's lumbar degenerative disease is rated at 20 percent since September 28, 2016. His right lower extremity radiculopathy is also rated at 20 percent since the same date.
The deciding factor: The VA examinations showed that the Veteran’s symptoms and range of motion were consistent with a 20% rating under Diagnostic Code 5242 for degenerative arthritis of the spine, effective September 28, 2016.
- Claimed conditions
- lumbar degenerative disease
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 20%
- Decision date
- July 11, 2019
- Citation
- 19153580
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 1,934 · Granted: 41% (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 19153580.
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 has determined that there are errors in the decision-making process related to service connection for lower back, right knee, and left knee conditions. The claims are being remanded to allow for further review and consideration of these issues.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining treatment records and adequate nexus opinions. The Veteran's claims for service connection for lumbar spine and cervical spine disabilities are now before the Board.
- Partly granted
The Board denied increased ratings for the Veteran's lower extremity radiculopathy, lumbar degenerative disease, and left hip strain conditions, but granted a 10 percent rating for left hip strain impairment of thigh from April 13, 2023.
- Denied
The Veteran's claim for service connection of a heart condition and TDIU was denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a finding that his current heart conditions were related to his active-duty service or any other service-connected disability.
Free starter guide for your own claim
Reading this because you were denied or under-rated? Get the plain-English next steps — your appeal options, the deadline that protects you, and how appeals like yours turn out. One email, no spam.
We will only use this to send the guide. No spam, unsubscribe any time. We never sell your information.
We are not the VA. Veterans’ Rights is an independent resource built for veterans. We are not the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, not part of the government, and not endorsed by any government agency.
This is general information, not legal advice. For advice about your own situation, talk to a VA-accredited representative — many help for free.