The Veteran's back disability is currently rated at 40 percent, and the Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted. The evidence shows constant pain with radiating symptoms down the legs, but no unfavorable ankylosis or IVDS with incapacitating episodes.
The deciding factor: The VA examination revealed forward flexion to 5 degrees during flare-ups, which does not meet the criteria for a higher rating under any applicable diagnostic code.
- Claimed conditions
- Degenerative disc disease other than IVDS with intervertebral disc syndrome of the lumbar spine, Left lower extremity radiculopathy of the sciatic nerve
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 40%
- Decision date
- November 22, 2024
- Citation
- A24077657
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 A24077657.
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 Board has granted service connection for degenerative arthritis and spinal stenosis with L3-L5 disc herniation (lumbar disability), left lower extremity radiculopathy of the sciatic nerve, and right lower extremity radiculopathy of the sciatic nerve. The Board found that these conditions are related to service.
- Denied
The Veteran's service-connected conditions do not meet the criteria for specially adapted housing or a special home adaptation grant due to lack of loss of use resulting from his disabilities.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board finds that remand is necessary to obtain relevant private medical records for the cervical spine disability, left lower extremity radiculopathy of the sciatic nerve, right hip disability, and left hip disability.,The AOJ failed to undertake appropriate efforts to obtain these records prior to issuance of the December 24, 2019, or January 24, 2020, AOJ decisions.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to inadequate medical opinions and duty-to-assist errors.
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