The Veteran's low back disability is rated at 40 percent from March 19, 2012 to August 12, 2015. The appeal for a higher rating prior to that date and after it is denied.
The deciding factor: The evidence shows the Veteran's forward flexion of the thoracolumbar spine was limited to 30 degrees or less from March 19, 2012, which meets the criteria for a 40 percent rating under Diagnostic Code 5242.
- Claimed conditions
- Degenerative Joint Disease and Degenerative Disc Disease of the Lumbar Spine
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 40%
- Decision date
- January 12, 2022
- Citation
- 22001741
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 1,030 · Granted: 17% (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 22001741.
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 Veteran's claims for increased ratings and an earlier effective date are remanded due to pre-decisional duty to assist errors. The Board requests a retrospective medical opinion regarding the severity of his lumbar spine disability, left lower extremity radiculopathy, and status post laminectomy scar during the period from February 22, 2012, to October 25, 2020.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's claims for increased evaluations of her right knee osteoarthritis, left knee osteoarthritis, and lumbar spine disability are being remanded due to the failure to provide adequate VA examinations.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's claims for increased evaluations of her lumbar spine, right knee, and left knee osteoarthritis are being remanded due to the need for additional supporting evidence.
- Granted
The Veteran's back condition and hypertension are granted as service connected.
Free starter guide for your own claim
Reading this because you were denied or under-rated? Get the plain-English next steps — your appeal options, the deadline that protects you, and how appeals like yours turn out. One email, no spam.
We will only use this to send the guide. No spam, unsubscribe any time. We never sell your information.
We are not the VA. Veterans’ Rights is an independent resource built for veterans. We are not the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, not part of the government, and not endorsed by any government agency.
This is general information, not legal advice. For advice about your own situation, talk to a VA-accredited representative — many help for free.