The Veteran's lumbar spine disability is rated at 20 percent prior to January 27, 2015 and 10 percent thereafter. The Veteran asserts entitlement to higher ratings for all periods on appeal.,A 40 percent rating should be granted for the entire period of appeal as the evidence shows forward flexion of the thoracolumbar spine is less than or equal to 30 degrees.
The deciding factor: The medical evidence demonstrates that the Veteran's lumbar spine disability results in forward flexion of the thoracolumbar spine to 30 degrees or less, which meets the criteria for a 40 percent rating under DC 5242.
- Claimed conditions
- lumbar strain, lumbar spondylosis L1-L3-L5, lumbar degenerative disc disease
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 40%
- Decision date
- June 5, 2020
- Citation
- 20038744
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 20038744.
What this means for you
A remand is not a loss. The Board sent the case back for more development — often a new exam or missing records — before making a final decision. Many remands later end in a grant, and the decision spells out exactly what the Board wanted to see.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Granted
The Veteran's service-connected disabilities rendered him unable to secure and follow substantially gainful employment prior to August 14, 2023.
- Dismissed
The Veteran's appeals for service connection for right hand arthritis and left hand arthritis have been dismissed.,The Veteran's appeals for a higher rating for lumbar strain, radiculopathy of the left sciatic nerve, and radiculopathy of the right sciatic nerve have been remanded.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has granted service connection for lumbar strain and lumbar intervertebral disc syndrome with left sciatica. The right lower extremity sciatica claim is remanded due to a duty-to-assist error.
- Granted
The Board has determined that the Veteran's back disability, diagnosed as lumbar strain, spinal stenosis and degenerative disc disease (DDD) of the lumbar spine, is causally related to service. As such, service connection for this condition is granted.
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