The Veteran's service-connected degenerative arthritis and disc disease of the lumbar spine was granted a disability rating of 40 percent, effective May 23, 2017.
The deciding factor: Resolving reasonable doubt in favor of the Veteran, the Veteran's service-connected degenerative arthritis and disc disease of the lumbar spine more closely approximated the functional equivalent of favorable ankylosis prior to October 11, 2019.
- Claimed conditions
- Degenerative arthritis and disc disease of the lumbar spine
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 40%
- Decision date
- November 28, 2025
- Citation
- A25102775
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 945 · Granted: 43% (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 A25102775.
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.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's claim for an increased disability rating in excess of 20 percent for his service-connected degenerative arthritis and disc disease of the lumbar spine is being remanded due to the inadequacy of a previous VA examination that did not discount the beneficial effects of the Veteran's pain medications on his disabilities.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for degenerative arthritis and disc disease of the lumbar spine, finding that there was no evidence of a chronic back condition in service or continuous symptoms since service. The claimant is not entitled to a TDIU as well.
- Denied
The Veteran's low back disability is currently rated as 40 percent from September 26, 2012 to December 20, 2022.,A higher evaluation in excess of 40 percent for the Veteran's low back disability from December 20, 2022 is denied.
- Granted
The Veteran's low back disability is granted a 30 percent rating for the entire appeal period, and his right foot condition is denied service connection.
Free starter guide for your own claim
Reading this because you were denied or under-rated? Get the plain-English next steps — your appeal options, the deadline that protects you, and how appeals like yours turn out. One email, no spam.
We will only use this to send the guide. No spam, unsubscribe any time. We never sell your information.
We are not the VA. Veterans’ Rights is an independent resource built for veterans. We are not the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, not part of the government, and not endorsed by any government agency.
This is general information, not legal advice. For advice about your own situation, talk to a VA-accredited representative — many help for free.