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
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 cases for further development due to less than substantial compliance with previous directives. The Veteran's lumbar spine disability and associated neurologic impairments are being reviewed, as is his migraine headaches.
- Granted
The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unable to maintain substantially gainful employment, and a TDIU rating is granted.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's appeal for higher disability ratings for cervical spine DDD and lumbar DJD, as well as the claim for TDIU, is being remanded due to issues with the timeliness of her Notice of Disagreement (NOD) regarding the May 2010 rating decision.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has granted service connection for lumbar spine disability, but the issues of service connection for uterine fibroid disability and stomach problems are being remanded due to insufficient evidence. The issue of service connection for anxiety disorder is also being remanded as it is inextricably intertwined with the other two issues.
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