The Veteran's lumbosacral strain with degenerative arthritis of the spine was denied for an initial rating in excess of 20 percent prior to January 17, 2019 and from January 17, 2019. The claim for a staged rating in excess of 40 percent is also denied.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's lumbosacral strain with degenerative arthritis of the spine did not meet the criteria for an increased rating under the General Rating Formula for Diseases and Injuries of the Spine, as her forward flexion was greater than 30 degrees but less than 60 degrees.
- Claimed conditions
- lumbosacral strain with degenerative arthritis of the spine
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 40%
- Decision date
- October 21, 2021
- Citation
- 21064725
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 21064725.
What this means for you
A denial is a starting point, not the end of the road. You can see why this claim fell short — and, if you are still inside the one-year window, the appeal lanes that may remain open to you.
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 service connection for lumbosacral strain with degenerative arthritis of the spine was granted effective December 30, 2019.,PTSD benefits were not granted earlier than December 3, 2019.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board is remanding the claims for service connection and effective dates earlier than March 20, 2020 due to duty to assist errors and a request for a good cause extension of time limits.
- Granted
The Veteran was granted a TDIU for the period from January 1, 2020 to September 30, 2023 due to service-connected disabilities preventing him from maintaining substantially gainful employment.
- Denied
The Veteran's left lower extremity radiculopathy has been rated at 10 percent since December 28, 2016. The Board denied an increased rating for this condition from that date to September 9, 2022.
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