The Veteran's lumbar spine disability was denied an increased rating in excess of 40 percent from February 27, 2017 to the date of death. A 20 percent rating was granted for the period March 18, 2013 to February 26, 2017.
The deciding factor: The evidence did not meet the criteria for a disability rating in excess of 40 percent from February 27, 2017 to the date of death. The evidence was equipoise as to whether it met the criteria for a 20 percent rating from March 18, 2013 to February 26, 2017.
- Claimed conditions
- Degenerative disc disease at L4-L5, Degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- June 9, 2020
- Citation
- 20039191
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 20039191.
What this means for you
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What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Granted
The Veteran's claim for increased ratings for degenerative arthritis of the cervical spine and lumbar spine was granted with effective dates of May 13, 2019.
- Granted
The Veteran's degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine was diagnosed during service and has continued since then. The Board granted service connection for this condition based on continuity of symptomatology.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to inadequate examinations and the need for a retrospective opinion regarding the severity of his service-connected lumbar spine disability.
- Granted
The Board has determined that the Veteran's low back disability, diagnosed as degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine, is related to service and granted service connection for this condition.
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