The Board has granted a TDIU for the Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including his low back disability. The initial rating for the low back disability remains at 20 percent.
The deciding factor: The Veteran’s combined service-connected disabilities render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.
- Claimed conditions
- lumbar spine multilevel disc desiccation with herniated extruded nucleolus pulposus on the right at L4/L5, paravertebral muscle spasms
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- May 21, 2020
- Citation
- 20035490
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 20035490.
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: Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for an initial disability rating in excess of 20 percent for lumbar spine multilevel disc desiccation with herniated extruded nucleus pulposus on the right at L4/L5 and paravertebral muscle spasms, entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) prior to November 24, 2010, and entitlement to an initial disability rating in excess of 10 percent for degenerative disc disease of the cervical spine.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board has determined that a VA examination is needed to assess the current severity of the Veteran's service-connected low back disorder, and to determine if he is entitled to an increased evaluation.
- Whole decision: Partly granted
The Veteran's initial claim for a higher rating for his lumbar spine disability was denied. However, the Board granted a TDIU from March 6, 2010 based on evidence showing he is unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment due to service-connected disabilities.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Board has determined that the Veteran's lumbar spine disability warrants a 20 percent rating, effective July 2, 2007.
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