The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 20 percent for her service-connected low back disability, finding that the evidence supported no higher than a 20 percent rating.

The deciding factor: The Veteran's forward flexion was greater than 30 degrees but not greater than 60 degrees, and there was no evidence of ankylosis or other factors warranting a higher rating under the applicable criteria.

Claimed conditions

lumbar paraspinous muscle spasm with degenerative arthritis

How they argued it

Direct service connection

Exposure basis

None

Rating assigned

20%

Decision date

October 30, 2025

Citation

A25094597

Want to see how appeals like this one tend to go? Appeals like mine