The Veteran's lumbar spine disability is rated at 40 percent, and his peripheral neuropathy and radiculopathy of the lower extremities are each rated at 20 percent. The appeal for higher ratings is denied.
The deciding factor: The VA examinations consistently showed forward flexion of the lumbar spine to be less than or equal to 30 degrees, which meets the criteria for a 40 percent rating under the General Rating Formula for Diseases and Injuries of the Spine (5243). For the lower extremities, the ratings are based on the presence of moderate incomplete paralysis/impairment.
- Claimed conditions
- Degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine, Peripheral neuropathy and radiculopathy of the sciatic nerve of the left lower extremity, Peripheral neuropathy and radiculopathy of the sciatic nerve of the right lower extremity
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 40%
- Decision date
- January 14, 2021
- Citation
- 21002536
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 21002536.
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.
- Granted
The Veteran's claim for increased ratings for degenerative arthritis of the cervical spine and lumbar spine was granted with effective dates of May 13, 2019.
- Granted
The Veteran's degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine was diagnosed during service and has continued since then. The Board granted service connection for this condition based on continuity of symptomatology.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to inadequate examinations and the need for a retrospective opinion regarding the severity of his service-connected lumbar spine disability.
- Granted
The Board has determined that the Veteran's low back disability, diagnosed as degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine, is related to service and granted service connection for this condition.
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