The Veteran's lumbar spinal stenosis with degenerative arthritis has been granted an initial rating of 20 percent, effective September 28, 2019. The Board found that the evidence was at least evenly balanced to suggest that throughout the period on appeal, the Veteran’s lumbar spinal stenosis with degenerative arthritis manifested in forward flexion limited to 60 degrees or less, or muscle spasm resulting in abnormal gait or spinal contour.
The deciding factor: The Board found that the evidence was at least evenly balanced to suggest that throughout the period on appeal, the Veteran’s lumbar spinal stenosis with degenerative arthritis manifested in forward flexion limited to 60 degrees or less, which is contemplated by a 20 percent rating under Diagnostic Codes 5237 and 5242.
- Claimed conditions
- lumbar spinal stenosis with degenerative arthritis
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 20%
- Decision date
- June 18, 2020
- Citation
- 20041492
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 20041492.
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.
- Denied
The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for his lumbar spinal stenosis with degenerative arthritis prior to August 10, 2017 was denied.,The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for his lumbar spinal stenosis with degenerative arthritis from August 10, 2017 was also denied.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including a new VA examination to assess the severity of his service-connected lumbar spine disability and determine if there are any flare-ups or functional limitations.
- Denied
The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected lumbar myositis, psychoneurosis and conversion hysteria, residuals of shrapnel wounds of the left thigh and pelvis with retained foreign bodies and scars, and residuals of shell fragment wounds of the right thigh and left leg. The veteran was also denied entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities.
- Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claim for an initial evaluation in excess of 10 percent for his service-connected coronary artery disease, finding that the evidence did not support a higher rating based on the severity of his condition.
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