The Veteran's lumbar strain, with sacroiliitis and degenerative disc disease, status post laminectomy, was rated at 40% from November 22, 2010 to December 2, 2012, and denied for a higher rating. From February 1, 2013, the Veteran's condition remained rated at 40%. The highest available rating under the General Rating Formula for Diseases and Injuries of the Spine was granted.
The deciding factor: The Veteran’s lumbar spine disability resulted in forward flexion limited to 30 degrees, which is within the criteria for a 40% rating. A higher rating requires unfavorable ankylosis, which has not been demonstrated.
- Claimed conditions
- lumbar strain, sacroiliitis, lumbar degenerative disc disease
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 40%
- Decision date
- October 28, 2020
- Citation
- 20069895
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 2,480 · Granted: 26% (granted or partly granted, in the vetted decisions on this site)
Judge attribution: 2025 complete; earlier years partial.
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 20069895.
What this means for you
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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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