The Veteran's service-connected lumbar spine disability is granted a 40 percent rating, and other benefits including TDIU, DEA eligibility, and SMC are also granted.
The deciding factor: The August 2020 VA examination provided the most restrictive range of motion findings, which were applied retroactively to July 16, 2013, supporting a 40 percent rating for the lumbar spine disability.
- Claimed conditions
- Lumbar Spine Disability
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 40%
- Decision date
- June 17, 2025
- Citation
- A25053091
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 the Veteran's appeal for a higher rating for his lumbar spine disability, both before and after November 8, 2024.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for a bilateral hearing loss disability, psychiatric disorder, lumbar spine disability, hypertension, and obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) as the evidence did not support a finding that these conditions were related to the Veteran's military service.
- Denied
The Board denied initial disability ratings in excess of 70 percent for PTSD, 10 percent for bilateral hearing loss, and 30 percent for COPD with asthma. The claims for service connection for various disabilities were remanded.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claims for service connection for various disabilities, including erectile dysfunction, lumbar spine disability, hip disabilities, restless leg syndrome, hand tremors, deviated septum, hemorrhoids, and bilateral hearing loss, due to a need for additional development of evidence.
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