The Veteran's lumbar degenerative disc disease with stenosis is rated at 40 percent, but no higher. The Board found that the Veteran's forward flexion of the thoracolumbar spine was most accurately approximated as limited to 30 degrees or less.
The deciding factor: The VA examination findings supported a finding of forward flexion of the thoracolumbar spine at 30 degrees or less, which is consistent with the criteria for a 40 percent rating under Diagnostic Code 5242.
- Claimed conditions
- lumbar degenerative disc disease with stenosis
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 40%
- Decision date
- December 14, 2020
- Citation
- 20078812
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 20078812.
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.
- Dismissed
The Board has dismissed the appeals for service connection for a lumbar spine disorder, headaches, an acquired psychiatric disorder, and sleep apnea due to the Veteran's death.
- Denied
The Veteran's claims for increased ratings were denied, while some service connection claims were granted or reopened. The appeal is remanded for further action on several issues.
- Granted
The reduction of the 40 percent disability rating to 20 percent for the service-connected lumbar degenerative disc disease with stenosis (back disability) was not proper, and the 40 percent rating is restored from February 9, 2011.
- Granted
The Board has determined that the Veteran's degenerative joint disease of the bilateral hips, knees, and wrists, and his left shoulder, as well as his disc disease of the cervical and lumbar spine with stenosis are attributable to his active military service.
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