The Veteran's initial rating of 40 percent for low back disability is granted, while a higher rating for PTSD with depression remains denied. The issues of service connection for skin disability and TDIU are remanded.
The deciding factor: The evidence supports an initial 40% rating for the low back disability due to forward flexion limited to less than 30 degrees but not reaching 60 degrees, despite pain and flare-ups limiting function. The Veteran's PTSD with depression does not meet criteria warranting a higher rating.
- Claimed conditions
- Degenerative disc disease of the low back, Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) with depression
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 40%
- Decision date
- November 1, 2019
- Citation
- 19182847
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 2,776 · Granted: 24% (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 19182847.
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 remands the claims for a VA psychiatric examination to address the Veteran's service-connected PTSD with depression and its impact on his employability.
- Granted
The Board granted a 100 percent disability rating for PTSD with depression, effective February 1, 2023.
- Granted
The Board granted service connection for a low back disability and cervical spine disability, to include bilateral upper extremity radiculopathy.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has vacated its January 2022 decision, which denied increased ratings for the Veteran's low back disability and right lower extremity nerves. The issues of increased ratings for sciatic radiculopathy and femoral radiculopathy are remanded. A compensable rating for a surgical scar on the back is also remanded.
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