The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his lumbar spine disability is denied prior to August 31, 2023 and in excess of 40 percent thereafter. His claim for service connection for tardive dyskinesia is denied. The Veteran's TDIU claim from September 25, 2015 to March 15, 2017 is dismissed.
The deciding factor: The VA examinations showed significant functional impairment with forward flexion of the lumbar spine at or below 30 degrees in multiple instances, which does not meet the criteria for a higher rating under the applicable diagnostic codes. The Veteran's claim for service connection for tardive dyskinesia was denied as there is no persuasive evidence linking it to his military service.
- Claimed conditions
- Degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine, Tardive dyskinesia
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- February 2, 2026
- Citation
- 26001477
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. Read the original VA decision (opens in a new tab) using citation 26001477.
What this means for you
A final Board denial may be appealed to the U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims, generally within 120 days of the Board mailing date. A Supplemental Claim with new and relevant evidence is a separate option. Another Higher-Level Review of the Board decision is not available. Check your own notice: this historical decision does not set your deadline.
What you can do next
Use your own notice and decision stage. A remanded issue is not a final court-appealable denial. VA review guidance and CAVC filing instructions (U.S. federal; reviewed October 7, 2026).
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Veteran's claim for increased ratings for degenerative arthritis of the cervical spine and lumbar spine was granted with effective dates of May 13, 2019.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Veteran's degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine was diagnosed during service and has continued since then. The Board granted service connection for this condition based on continuity of symptomatology.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Board has determined that the Veteran's low back disability, diagnosed as degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine, is related to service and granted service connection for this condition.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to inadequate examinations and the need for a retrospective opinion regarding the severity of his service-connected lumbar spine disability.
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