The Veteran's chronic lumbar strain with degenerative disc disease is granted a 20% rating, effective January 30, 2017. The Veteran's surgical scar is also granted a 10% rating.
The deciding factor: The VA examiner found that the Veteran’s forward thoracolumbar flexion was limited to 70 degrees, which is only 10 degrees above the threshold for a 20% rating due to flare-ups and repetition over time. The Board finds it at least as likely as not that these factors would further limit his range of motion.
- Claimed conditions
- Chronic lumbar strain with degenerative disc disease
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 20%
- Decision date
- July 9, 2020
- Citation
- 20045701
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 20045701.
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.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding whether the Veteran's GERD is related to his service-connected back disability, specifically the Motrin he was prescribed in 1998.
- Remanded (sent back)
The appeal for an extra-schedular rating for PTSD is denied. The issues of service connection for acid reflux and right shoulder strain are remanded.
- Denied
The Veteran's service-connected lumbar strain with degenerative disc disease is currently rated at 20 percent, but the Board found that a higher rating was not warranted based on the evidence of record.
- Denied
The Veteran's low back disability, characterized by chronic lumbar strain with degenerative disc disease, does not warrant a rating higher than the currently assigned 10 percent.
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