The Veteran's lumbar spine disability is currently rated at 20 percent, but the Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted based on the evidence of record.,The Veteran's left lower extremity radiculopathy and right lower extremity radiculopathy are both currently rated at 10 percent. The Board does not find any basis to grant higher ratings for these conditions.
The deciding factor: The VA examination findings do not support a rating in excess of the current 20 percent for the lumbar spine disability, as there is no evidence of forward flexion limited to 30 degrees or less, or favorable ankylosis of the entire thoracolumbar spine.
- Claimed conditions
- Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS), Left Lower Extremity Radiculopathy, Lumbar Spine Disability, Right Lower Extremity Radiculopathy
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 20%
- Decision date
- August 6, 2019
- Citation
- 19160841
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 3,319 · Granted: 25% (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 19160841.
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Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Granted
The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, right knee meniscal tear, and IBS, have rendered him unable to secure or follow any substantially gainful employment from May 1, 2020 to May 1, 2021. The Board finds that the evidence is in balance, with all reasonable doubt resolved in favor of the Veteran.
- Denied
The Board has denied the veteran's claim for an initial compensable disability rating for his IBS, finding that the evidence does not meet the criteria for a moderate or severe condition as defined by VA regulations.
- Granted
The Veteran's bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy has been granted a 30 percent disability rating since November 29, 2021.
- Granted
The Board has granted an initial 20 percent rating for service-connected vitamin D deficiency, finding that the Veteran's recurrent abdominal pain and diarrhea most closely approximates the criteria for a 20 percent rating under Diagnostic Code 6313. The claim for service connection for IBS was not addressed in this decision.
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