The Veteran's lumbar spine disability is currently rated at 20 percent, but the Board denied an increased rating as his symptoms do not meet or approximate the criteria for a higher rating.
The deciding factor: The Veteran’s lumbar spine disability has been manifested by chronic pain resulting in forward flexion to no worse than 50 degrees when considering additional functional loss and/or impairment. There is no evidence of ankylosis, muscle spasm, guarding severe enough to result in abnormal gait or spinal contour, or incapacitating episodes of intervertebral disc syndrome (IDS) requiring bed rest as defined under VA law.
- Claimed conditions
- Degenerative joint disease of the lumbar spine (lumbar spine disability)
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 20%
- Decision date
- April 7, 2020
- Citation
- 20023800
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 20023800.
What this means for you
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The Veteran's service-connected musculoligamentous strain, right knee, is currently rated at 10 percent and the Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted.
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