An evaluation greater than 40 percent for degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine is denied.,An evaluation greater than 20 percent for a left ankle injury, status post-surgical reconstruction, is denied.,TDIU prior to October 30, 2014, is remanded.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's lumbar degenerative arthritis has not met or more nearly approximated the criteria for a rating higher than 40 percent under the General Rating Formula for Diseases and Injuries of the Spine.,The Veteran’s left ankle disability has not been shown to have ankylosis, which is required for a higher rating under DC 5271. The highest available rating under this code is 20 percent.,There is evidence suggesting that the Veteran was unable to work due to his service-connected disabilities prior to October 30, 2014.
- Claimed conditions
- Degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine, Left ankle injury, status post-surgical reconstruction
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- December 16, 2019
- Citation
- 19194310
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 2,977 · Granted: 27% (granted or partly granted, in the indexed 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. Read the original VA decision (opens in a new tab) using citation 19194310.
What this means for you
A final Board denial may be appealed to the U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims, generally within 120 days of the Board mailing date. A Supplemental Claim with new and relevant evidence is a separate option. Another Higher-Level Review of the Board decision is not available. Check your own notice: this historical decision does not set your deadline.
What you can do next
Use your own notice and decision stage. A remanded issue is not a final court-appealable denial. VA review guidance and CAVC filing instructions (U.S. federal; reviewed October 7, 2026).
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Veteran's claim for increased ratings for degenerative arthritis of the cervical spine and lumbar spine was granted with effective dates of May 13, 2019.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Veteran's degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine was diagnosed during service and has continued since then. The Board granted service connection for this condition based on continuity of symptomatology.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to inadequate examinations and the need for a retrospective opinion regarding the severity of his service-connected lumbar spine disability.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Board has determined that the Veteran's low back disability, diagnosed as degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine, is related to service and granted service connection for this condition.
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