The Veteran's lumbar spine DJD is granted a 40 percent rating, while the IBS with spastic colitis remains at 30 percent.
The deciding factor: The VA examiner found that the Veteran’s symptoms most closely approximated flexion to 35 degrees or less during flare-ups, warranting a 40 percent rating under the General Rating Formula for Diseases and Injuries of the Spine.
- Claimed conditions
- lumbar spine degenerative joint disease (DJD), irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) with spastic colitis
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 40%
- Decision date
- August 23, 2019
- Citation
- 19165655
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 1,421 · Granted: 31% (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 19165655.
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 remanded the claims for additional development due to inadequate VA opinions regarding the severity of the Veteran's service-connected bilateral hip and back disabilities. The claims are being returned to the RO for further action.
- Granted
The Board has granted service connection for a lumbar spine disability and bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy, finding that the Veteran's conditions are related to his military service.
- Granted
The Veteran's service-connected disorders, including lumbar spine DJD and bilateral knee DJD, have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation since May 12, 2006. Effective dates for TDIU and DEA are granted as of that date.
- Denied
The Veteran's lumbar spine disability is currently rated at 20 percent, but the Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted.,The Veteran's bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy is currently rated at 40 percent, and the Board finds no basis to grant a higher rating.,The effective date for the 40 percent rating for BLE radiculopathy cannot be prior to October 7, 2022.
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