The Veteran's initial disability rating for degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine was granted at a 20 percent level from September 9, 2009 through March 12, 2017. The Veteran's LLE radiculopathy received an initial compensable (10%) rating from January 13, 2010 through March 12, 2017.
The deciding factor: The medical evidence showed that the Veteran had limited flexion of his lumbar spine at 45 degrees in September 2009 and demonstrated flexion between 30 and 60 degrees in January 2010 and May 2011, which met the criteria for a 20 percent disability rating.
- Claimed conditions
- Degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine, LLE radiculopathy
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 20%
- Decision date
- March 23, 2020
- Citation
- 20020801
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 20020801.
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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
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