The Veteran's service-connected degenerative joint disease of the lumbar spine is granted a 60% evaluation, and he is granted individual unemployability (TDIU). The rating for tinnitus remains at 10%. No new evidence was received to reopen other claims.
The deciding factor: The Veteran’s back disability resulted in incapacitating episodes with total duration of at least 6 weeks during the past 12 months, warranting a 60% evaluation under the General Rating Formula for Diseases or Injuries of the Spine. The TDIU was granted as his service-connected disabilities rendered him unable to follow a substantially gainful occupation.
- Claimed conditions
- Degenerative Joint Disease of the Lumbar Spine, Restrictive Lung Disease, Right Side Radiculopathy/Sciatica
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 60%
- Decision date
- December 5, 2019
- Citation
- 19191627
Veterans Law Judge
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 19191627.
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 Veteran's claim for an increased rating in excess of 20 percent for degenerative joint disease of the lumbar spine is denied.,The Veteran's claim for an initial increased rating in excess of 10 percent for right knee degenerative arthritis is remanded due to inadequate examination report.
- Granted
The reduction of the Veteran's lumbar spine and cervical spine disability ratings from 40% to 20% was improper, and the prior ratings are restored.
- Granted
The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's respiratory disorder, specifically Obstructive Sleep Apnea and Restrictive Lung Disease, finding that it is proximately due to his obesity which was caused by his service-connected disabilities.
- Denied
The Veteran's thoracolumbar spine disability is rated at 20 percent, and the appeal for an increased rating has been denied. The Board also found that TDIU was granted as of January 16, 2010, but not earlier.
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