The Veteran's low back disability is rated as 10 percent prior to April 27, 2014; a rating higher than 10 percent from April 27, 2014 to January 29, 2018 is denied; and a rating of 20 percent, but no higher, from January 30, 2018 is granted.
The deciding factor: The Veteran demonstrated painful motion of the lumbar spine with degenerative joint disease such that a compensable 10% rating was warranted prior to April 27, 2014. From April 27, 2014 to January 29, 2018, he did not meet the schedular criteria for a higher rating based on loss of motion. Since January 30, 2018, his symptoms have warranted a 20% rating.
- Claimed conditions
- lumbar spine degenerative joint disease with intervertebral disc syndrome
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 20%
- Decision date
- August 15, 2019
- Citation
- 19163347
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 2,569 · Granted: 26% (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 19163347.
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.
- Denied
The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for migraine headaches was denied.,The reduction of the Veteran's lumbar spine degenerative joint disease with intervertebral disc syndrome from 20 to 10 percent was granted and restored.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's claims for increased evaluations of his service-connected disabilities are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and development of records.
- Dismissed
The Veteran's appeals for an increased rating for lumbar spine degenerative joint disease and a TDIU have been dismissed as he withdrew his appeal prior to the promulgation of an appellate decision.
- Denied
The Veteran's lumbar spine disability is rated at 20 percent, with separate ratings for radiculopathies of the left and right lower extremities.,The initial rating for radiculopathy of the left lower extremity remains at 20 percent. The Board finds no basis to grant a higher rating.,From August 14, 2015, the Veteran's radiculopathy of the right lower extremity is rated at 20 percent. The Board finds no basis to grant a higher rating.,The Veteran's right shoulder disability is rated at 30 percent.
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