The Veteran's lumbar back disability is rated at 40 percent, but no higher, for the entire period on appeal. The Board affords the benefit of doubt to the Veteran and grants a 40 percent rating.
The deciding factor: The evidence is in relative equipoise that the Veteran’s low back disability manifested a limitation of forward flexion of 30 degrees or less throughout the entire period on appeal, warranting a 40 percent rating.
- Claimed conditions
- lumbar back disability
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- April 15, 2020
- Citation
- 20025914
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 20025914.
What this means for you
A grant means the Board allowed the benefit or issue identified in this decision. Review the original order: other issues in the same appeal may have a different outcome, and this decision does not predict another claim.
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: Denied
The Board denied service connection for a lumbar back disability, finding that the Veteran's condition did not manifest during active service or until many years after service and is not shown to be causally related to an in-service event.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board has found that the Veteran's tinnitus is service-connected. The claims for bilateral hearing loss, lumbar back disability, and bilateral feet disability are remanded due to insufficient evidence.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Veteran's lumbar spine disability is rated at 40 percent, effective October 15, 2007. The increased ratings for left and right lower extremity radiculopathy are denied.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Board denied service connection for lumbar back disability, nose cancer, and soft tissue sarcoma. The soft tissue sarcoma claim was remanded due to the need for further evaluation.
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