The Veteran's lumbar spine strain disability is rated at 20 percent, but the Board finds that it does not meet the criteria for a higher rating as forward flexion of the thoracolumbar spine has not been limited to 30 degrees or less and there has not been ankylosis of the entire thoracolumbar spine.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's lumbar spine disability does not result in any incapacitating episodes, and his forward flexion is greater than 30 degrees but not greater than 60 degrees, which does not meet the criteria for a higher rating under the General Rating Formula for Diseases and Injuries of the Spine.
- Claimed conditions
- Lumbar spine strain
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 20%
- Decision date
- July 29, 2020
- Citation
- 20050508
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 20050508.
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