The Board denied a rating in excess of 40 percent prior to February 22, 2021, and in excess of 20 percent after February 22, 2021, for lumbosacral strain with degenerative arthritis and intervertebral disc syndrome.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's lumbar spine disability did not meet the criteria for a higher rating due to the absence of unfavorable ankylosis or IVDS with incapacitating episodes having a total duration of at least 6 weeks during the past 12 months.
- Claimed conditions
- lumbosacral strain with degenerative arthritis and intervertebral disc syndrome
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- February 25, 2025
- Citation
- A25016873
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 2,011 · Granted: 24% (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 A25016873.
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.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for headaches, painful surgical scar, left chest, hypertension, left elbow degenerative joint disease, and lumbosacral strain with degenerative arthritis and intervertebral disc syndrome due to incomplete VA treatment records.,No effective date earlier than specified dates was granted as there is no probative evidence showing the conditions had their onset during service or are otherwise related to service.
- Dismissed
The Board dismissed the appeals for entitlement to a rating more than 40 percent disabling for lumbosacral strain with degenerative arthritis and intervertebral disc syndrome, and for a rating more than 20 percent disabling for right lower extremity radicopathy, sciatic.
- Partly granted
The Board granted service connection for a stomach disorder (claimed as reoccurring vomiting) and right ankle disability, but denied service connection for cervical spine disability, lumbosacral strain with degenerative arthritis and intervertebral disc syndrome, hemorrhoids, PTSD, and a rating in excess of 20 percent for lumbosacral strain and degenerative arthritis.
- Partly granted
The Veteran was granted a 40 percent rating for his lumbosacral strain effective July 8, 2015, and the claim for an earlier effective date for total disability based on individual unemployability was denied.
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