The Board granted an initial 40 percent rating for chronic lumbar strain with degenerative disc disease throughout the period on appeal.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's low back disability was manifested by forward flexion of the thoracolumbar spine 30 degrees or less, which met the criteria for a 40 percent rating under the General Rating Formula for Disease and Injuries of the Spine.
- Claimed conditions
- chronic lumbar strain with degenerative disc disease
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 40%
- Decision date
- December 10, 2025
- Citation
- A25106241
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 1,948 · Granted: 29% (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 A25106241.
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.
- Dismissed
The Veteran's appeal for TDIU, left upper extremity neuropathy, and right shoulder rotator cuff strain has been dismissed.,The Veteran's appeals for a higher rating for left upper extremity neuropathy and right shoulder rotator cuff strain have been dismissed.,The Veteran's appeal for a higher rating for right shoulder rotator cuff strain has been dismissed.,A 20 percent rating is granted for right lower extremity radiculopathy.,A 20 percent rating is granted for left lower extremity radiculopathy.,The 40 percent rating for chronic lumbar strain with degenerative disc disease was reduced to 20 percent, and the reduction has been restored.
- Granted
The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including unspecified depressive disorder, atypical headaches with features of migraines, chronic lumbar strain with degenerative disc disease, and other conditions, have rendered him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment. The Board has granted his claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU).
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for a higher evaluation for his service-connected low back disorder and left lower extremity radiculopathy due to inadequate examinations. The Veteran needs new VA examinations to assess the severity of these conditions.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development, including obtaining relevant VA and private treatment records.
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.