The Veteran is granted a 40 percent rating for chronic lumbar strain from February 6, 2015 to July 18, 2018 and as of March 22, 2019.
The deciding factor: The VA examinations showed limited range of motion with forward flexion less than 30 degrees in both periods, which is consistent with the criteria for a 40 percent rating under the General Rating Formula for Diseases and Injuries of the Spine.
- Claimed conditions
- Chronic Lumbar Strain
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 40%
- Decision date
- November 26, 2019
- Citation
- 19188480
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 19188480.
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 Board denied the Veteran's claim for entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) as his service-connected disabilities have not rendered him unable to obtain or perform substantially gainful employment.
- Granted
The Veteran's chronic lumbar strain is now rated at 40 percent effective November 30, 2017. Radiculopathy of the left lower extremity remains rated at 10 percent and radiculopathy of the right lower extremity is rated at 10 percent as of December 16, 2019.
- Denied
The Veteran's claim for increased disability ratings for chronic lumbar strain prior to December 10, 2019 and since that date was denied. The evidence did not meet the criteria for a higher rating under any applicable diagnostic codes.
- Granted
The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for chronic lumbar strain was denied, but he was granted entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU). The Board found that the evidence did not show forward flexion of the thoracolumbar spine to 30 degrees or less, ankylosis, or IVDS with incapacitating episodes having a total duration of at least four weeks but less than six weeks during the past 12 months.
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