The Veteran's lumbar spondylosis with degenerative disc disease has been rated at 40 percent, the highest available rating under the General Rating Formula for Diseases and Injuries of the Spine.
The deciding factor: The VA examination confirmed that the Veteran's forward flexion was limited to 30 degrees or less, meeting the criteria for a 40 percent disability rating under Diagnostic Code 5242.
- Claimed conditions
- lumbar spondylosis with degenerative disc disease
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 40%
- Decision date
- October 7, 2021
- Citation
- 21062342
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 1,446 · Granted: 21% (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 21062342.
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 lumbar spondylosis with degenerative disc disease, cervical strain, plantar fasciitis, and hysterectomy are all found to be related to her service. The Board granted these claims based on direct service connection.
- Partly granted
The veteran is granted a 20% rating for right lower extremity radiculopathy. The issues of ratings in excess of 20 percent prior to June 4, 2020, for lumbar spondylosis with degenerative disc disease and right rotator cuff strain are remanded.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the case due to a pre-decisional duty error regarding workers' compensation and Social Security Administration records related to the Veteran's back disability. The AOJ is required to obtain these records.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for lumbar spondylosis with degenerative disc disease, right knee osteoarthritis, and left knee osteoarthritis due to service connection. The AOJ is required to obtain a medical opinion regarding direct service connection for these conditions.
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