The Veteran's claim for a higher initial disability rating for lumbosacral osteoarthritis prior to April 3, 2015 was granted. From April 3, 2015 to May 8, 2017, the Veteran received a 40 percent disability rating. After that date, his claim for an increased rating was denied.
The deciding factor: The medical evidence showed significant improvement in the Veteran's condition after surgery and treatment, but still limited flexion of the thoracolumbar spine to 25 degrees from May 9, 2017.
- Claimed conditions
- lumbosacral osteoarthritis
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 20%
- Decision date
- March 2, 2021
- Citation
- 21011588
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 21011588.
What this means for you
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What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Granted
The Board has granted service connection for chronic sinusitis, lumbar disc herniation, lumbosacral degenerative disc disease, lumbosacral osteoarthritis, and bilateral sciatica of the lower extremities.
- Denied
The VA denied a higher evaluation for lumbosacral osteoarthritis, finding that the Veteran's condition did not meet criteria for an increased rating beyond 10 percent.
- Remanded (sent back)
The veteran's claims for service connection for lumbosacral and bilateral hip osteoarthritis are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and development of evidence.
- Denied
The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected lumbar myositis, psychoneurosis and conversion hysteria, residuals of shrapnel wounds of the left thigh and pelvis with retained foreign bodies and scars, and residuals of shell fragment wounds of the right thigh and left leg. The veteran was also denied entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities.
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