The Veteran's degenerative arthritis of the low back was found to be productive of disability equivalent to limitation of motion to 30 degrees or less, warranting a 40 percent rating.
The deciding factor: The VA examiner noted that the Veteran had forward flexion limited to 60 degrees and significant limit on functional ability during flare-ups, which is analogous to the criteria for a 40 percent rating.
- Claimed conditions
- Degenerative arthritis of the low back
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 40%
- Decision date
- March 19, 2021
- Citation
- 21016048
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 21016048.
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.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for increased disability ratings for her neck and low back disabilities. The RO must obtain retrospective opinions discussing the severity of her disabilities prior to November 2020.
- Granted
The Veteran's degenerative arthritis of the low back is rated at 40 percent, but no higher, effective September 11, 2006.,An increased rating of 40 percent for radiculopathy of the left lower extremity from February 20, 2019 forward has been granted.,An increased rating of 40 percent for radiculopathy of the right lower extremity from February 20, 2019 forward has also been granted.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for degenerative arthritis of the low back and left knee disorder, finding no link between these conditions and any in-service events.
- Granted
The Veteran's service-connected degenerative arthritis of the low back is granted an increased evaluation to 40 percent prior to July 2, 2015.
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