The Veteran's disability rating for degenerative arthritis and spondylosis of the lumbar spine was increased to 40 percent effective September 6, 2016. Prior to this date, the condition did not meet criteria for a higher rating.
The deciding factor: The September 6, 2016 VA examination showed flexion limited to 60 degrees with pain at 40 degrees, which meets the requirement for a 40 percent disability rating under the General Rating Formula for Diseases and Injuries of the Spine.
- Claimed conditions
- Degenerative arthritis and spondylosis of the lumbar spine
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 40%
- Decision date
- April 9, 2020
- Citation
- 20024731
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 20024731.
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 Board has granted the readjudication of the claim for service connection for a lumbar spine disorder, but denied the claims for service connection for cervical spine disorder, bilateral hearing loss, and breathing condition.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the issues of increased ratings and effective date for a lumbar spine disability due to insufficient evidence regarding flare-ups' impact on range of motion.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the issues of increased ratings and effective date for a TDIU due to an inadequate medical examination report.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient opinions regarding the etiology of the Veteran's back disorder and its relationship to service-connected conditions.
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