The Veteran's claim for an increased rating of his service-connected lumbar DDD was denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating than 40 percent, as there was no evidence of unfavorable ankylosis or functional equivalent thereof.
The deciding factor: The VA examiner found that the Veteran had forward flexion limited to 70 degrees with pain on movement and repetitive use, but without favorable or unfavorable ankylosis. The criteria for a higher rating were not met.
- Claimed conditions
- lumbar DDD (degenerative disc disease)
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 40%
- Decision date
- December 11, 2023
- Citation
- 23065485
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. Read the original VA decision (opens in a new tab) using citation 23065485.
What this means for you
A remand sends an issue back for more development, often a new examination or missing records. It does not award the benefit or decide the final outcome. The original decision explains the additional work ordered.
What you can do next
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