The Veteran's IVDS with degenerative arthritis is currently rated at 20 percent prior to February 17, 2020 and 40 percent beginning on that date. The Board has granted a higher rating of 40 percent effective February 17, 2020 for the period after this date. However, the claim remains pending for entitlement to an even higher initial rating prior to February 17, 2020 and for TDIU.
The deciding factor: The VA examiner found that the Veteran's IVDS with degenerative arthritis had functional equivalent of favorable ankylosis since February 17, 2020, warranting a higher 40 percent rating. The claim is remanded to obtain clarification on whether unfavorable ankylosis has been shown at any time.
- Claimed conditions
- Intervertebral Disc Syndrome (IVDS) with degenerative arthritis
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 40%
- Decision date
- January 30, 2026
- Citation
- 26001429
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 26001429.
What this means for you
A remand is not a loss. The Board sent the case back for more development — often a new exam or missing records — before making a final decision. Many remands later end in a grant, and the decision spells out exactly what the Board wanted to see.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Partly granted
The Board denied service connection for irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) but granted a disability rating of 40 percent, but no higher, for intervertebral disc syndrome with degenerative arthritis.
- Denied
The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU, finding that the evidence did not support a higher rating based on the criteria for intervertebral disc syndrome with degenerative arthritis or for TDIU.
- Denied
The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected lumbar myositis, psychoneurosis and conversion hysteria, residuals of shrapnel wounds of the left thigh and pelvis with retained foreign bodies and scars, and residuals of shell fragment wounds of the right thigh and left leg. The veteran was also denied entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities.
- Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claim for an initial evaluation in excess of 10 percent for his service-connected coronary artery disease, finding that the evidence did not support a higher rating based on the severity of his condition.
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