The Veteran's service-connected degenerative joint disease (DJD) of the lumbar spine is rated at 40 percent, which is the maximum schedular rating available under the General Rating Formula for Diseases and Injuries of the Spine. The appeal has been denied.
The deciding factor: The Veteran’s lumbosacral spine disability results in forward flexion limited to 20 degrees with no additional limitation on repetitive motion, indicating a 40 percent rating as per DC 5237.
- Claimed conditions
- Degenerative Joint Disease (DJD) of the Lumbar Spine
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 40%
- Decision date
- August 27, 2019
- Citation
- 19166352
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 19166352.
What this means for you
A denial is a starting point, not the end of the road. You can see why this claim fell short — and, if you are still inside the one-year window, the appeal lanes that may remain open to you.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Granted
The reduction of the rating for cervical spine DJD from 30% to 20% was improper, and a restoration of the 30% rating is granted. A rating in excess of 30% for cervical spine DJD remains denied.
- Denied
The Veteran's service-connected DJD of the lumbar spine is rated at 20 percent, which is denied as it does not meet the criteria for a higher rating.
- Denied
The Board denied all claims, including the initial rating for PTSD and the initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss. Service connection was also denied for asthma, DDD/DJD of the lumbar spine, and steatocystoma multiplex.
- Granted
The Board granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, effective from the date of the February 2025 rating decision.
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