The Board denied entitlement to a rating in excess of 40 percent for the Veteran's lumbosacral strain with degenerative joint disease, as the evidence did not support a higher rating based on the current severity and functional impairment.
The deciding factor: The June 2023 VA examination report indicated that forward flexion was limited to 35 degrees immediately after repeated use over time, which does not meet the criteria for a rating in excess of 40 percent under the applicable diagnostic codes.
- Claimed conditions
- lumbosacral strain with degenerative joint disease
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- February 28, 2025
- Citation
- 25002962
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 3,217 · Granted: 46% (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 25002962.
What this means for you
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What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Partly granted
The Veteran's claims for an earlier effective date for TDIU and DEA, as well as the claim for a higher rating for his low back disability, were denied. However, the Board granted an effective date of December 30, 2009, but no earlier, for both TDIU and DEA.
- Dismissed
The appeal for entitlement to left hip injury, right hip injury, and right hand injury was dismissed as these issues were not properly appealed. The remaining claims are remanded for further development.
- Denied
The claim for a higher rating than 20 percent for lumbosacral strain with degenerative joint disease was denied because the veteran did not attend a scheduled VA examination.
- Denied
The Veteran's low back disability is currently rated at 20 percent, effective July 19, 2023. The rating is denied for a higher rating prior to that date.
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