The Veteran's claim for an initial rating of 20 percent, but not higher, for degenerative changes of the lumbar spine is granted. The claims for increased ratings for right leg radiculopathy and left leg radiculopathy are also granted.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's low back disability manifests with forward flexion limited to 40 degrees or better, muscle spasms, and without ankylosis or incapacitating episodes requiring bed rest prescribed by a physician having a total duration of at least four weeks but less than six weeks. The current rating of 20 percent is appropriate based on the functional limitations reported.
- Claimed conditions
- Degenerative changes of the lumbar spine, Radiculopathy of the right leg, Radiculopathy of the left leg
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 20%
- Decision date
- December 8, 2021
- Citation
- 21073437
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 21073437.
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 remanded the claim of service connection for a thoracolumbar spine disability, finding that the VA examination and opinion were inadequate as they did not consider the Veteran's complete medical history. The case is now to be reviewed with an addendum VA opinion.
- Dismissed
The Veteran's appeal was dismissed because the Board Appeal request was not timely filed with respect to the June 14, 2023 rating decision that decreased the rating for degenerative changes of the lumbar spine to 20 percent effective September 1, 2023.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for a lumbar spine disability and an acquired psychiatric disability, but remanded the issue of entitlement to service connection for tinnitus.
- Partly granted
The Board granted service connection for radiculopathy of the right lower extremity as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected degenerative changes of the lumbar spine and increased the disability rating for the lumbar spine to 20 percent effective August 18, 2023.
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