The Veteran's claim for an initial rating in excess of 20 percent for degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine with IVDS was denied. The Board also found that a TDIU prior to August 9, 2014 was not warranted.
The deciding factor: The evidence did not show forward flexion limited to 30 degrees or less, ankylosis, or incapacitating episodes of IVDS having a total duration of at least four weeks during the past 12 months. The Veteran's TDIU claim prior to August 9, 2014 was denied as he had not been precluded from securing or following substantially gainful employment.
- Claimed conditions
- Degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine with intervertebral disc syndrome (IVDS)
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- December 27, 2019
- Citation
- 19196397
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 2,199 · Granted: 25% (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 19196397.
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 service connection claim for degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine with intervertebral disc syndrome is granted based on a finding of continuity of lumbar spine pain symptoms since service.
- Whole decision: Partly granted
The Board granted an initial 40 percent rating for incomplete paralysis of the left sciatic nerve and denied a higher rating, while remanding service connection for radiculopathy of the right lower extremity.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Board determined that the severance of service connection for PTSD, right knee patellofemoral pain syndrome, radiculopathy, left lower extremity, degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine with intervertebral disc syndrome (IVDS), and tinnitus was proper due to clear and unmistakable error in the initial award.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Board denied the claims for restoration of higher ratings and service connection for hypertension, finding that the evidence did not support an improvement in the Veteran's ability to function under ordinary conditions of life and work.
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