The Board granted an increased initial rating of 20 percent for lumbar spondylosis with degenerative arthritis, resolving reasonable doubt in the Veteran's favor.
The deciding factor: The evidence supports muscle spasms severe enough to result in an abnormal gait, but not forward flexion limited to 30 degrees or less, favorable ankylosis of the entire thoracolumbar spine, and/or incapacitating episodes having a total duration of at least 4 weeks during the past 12 months.
- Claimed conditions
- lumbar spondylosis with degenerative arthritis
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 20%
- Decision date
- March 19, 2025
- Citation
- A25025541
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.
- Denied
The Board denied an increased evaluation for the Veteran's lumbar spondylosis with degenerative arthritis and remanded the issue of entitlement to an initial evaluation in excess of 10 percent for left lower extremity radiculopathy involving the sciatic nerve.
- Granted
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- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claim for a medical examination to determine if the Veteran's current neck strain is related to his in-service activities.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claim for a rating in excess of 70 percent for PTSD due to an inadequate medical opinion.
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