The Veteran's back disability has not met the criteria for a rating in excess of 10 percent prior to April 17, 2017; from April 17, 2017 to January 26, 2024; or from January 26, 2024. The Veteran's back disability has not met the criteria for a rating in excess of 20 percent prior to April 17, 2017 and from April 17, 2017 to January 26, 2024; or for a rating in excess of 40 percent from January 26, 2024.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's back disability has not met the criteria for a higher rating under the General Rating Formula for Diseases and Injuries of the Spine due to lack of forward flexion of the thoracolumbar spine at or below the required degrees in each period of time considered.
- Claimed conditions
- Degenerative disc disease, Degenerative arthritis, Spondylolisthesis
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- January 28, 2026
- Citation
- 26001113
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 26001113.
What this means for you
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What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Denied
The Veteran's low back disability is currently rated at 20 percent, and the claim for a higher rating is denied. The left shoulder disability is also rated at 20 percent, but there are no incapacitating episodes to warrant a higher rating under the IVDS Formula. The TDIU claim is remanded.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's claim for service connection for a back disability is being remanded due to duty-to-assist errors and the need for a VA examination.
- Denied
The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for degenerative disc disease prior to August 1, 2025 was denied as the evidence did not show unfavorable ankylosis of the thoracolumbar spine.,The Veteran's claims for higher ratings for left and right lower extremity radiculopathy prior to March 10, 2025 were denied as there is no neurological impairment associated with these conditions.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the claims for an initial disability rating in excess of 10 percent for the lumbar spine disability prior to October 11, 2022 and since December 1, 2022. The Veteran's claim is currently rated at 10 percent under Diagnostic Code 5242.
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