The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for DDD and IVDS of the lumbar spine is granted, with a maximum 40 percent evaluation effective February 13, 2019. The claim for TDIU due to orthopedic and neurological impairment associated with his service-connected disability is also granted.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's low back disability resulted in flexion limited to 30 degrees or less throughout the relevant rating period, which meets the criteria for a 40 percent evaluation under the general formula for diseases and injuries of the spine.
- Claimed conditions
- Degenerative Disc Disease (DDD), Inter-Vertebral Disc Syndrome (IVDS)
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 40%
- Decision date
- December 17, 2024
- Citation
- A24084103
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 A24084103.
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 claim for service connection for Degenerative Disc Disease (DDD) is being remanded due to a failure to provide the Veteran with a VA examination in connection with her claim. The Board finds that this was a pre-decisional duty to assist error and requires rescheduling of the examination.
- Granted
The Veteran's degenerative disc disease is related to service and the Board has granted service connection for this condition.
- Granted
The Board has granted an effective date of August 7, 2023 for the grant of service connection for Degenerative Disc Disease and Intervertebral Disc Syndrome (also claimed as a back condition), and bilateral lower extremity sciatic neuropathy.
- Denied
The Veteran's cervical spine disability and right upper extremity radiculopathy were denied increased evaluations. The TDIU claim was also denied prior to August 20, 2013.
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