The Board granted a rating of 60 percent for the veteran's service-connected intervertebral disc disease of the lumbar spine with radiculopathy, finding that it more closely approximates the criteria for a 60 percent evaluation.
The deciding factor: The October 1997 VA examination showed significant symptoms and findings consistent with L3-L4 radiculopathy, including pain on motion, weakness, atrophy of left quadriceps muscle, and asymmetric toe tapping in the left lower extremity. The MRI report also supported these findings by showing degenerative changes at L4-5 and L5-S1.
- Claimed conditions
- lumbosacral strain, degenerative disc disease, arthritis
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 60%
- Decision date
- May 9, 2000
- Citation
- 0012153
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 0012153.
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.
- Granted
The Board granted service connection for lumbosacral strain and lumbar radicopathy, right side, secondary to the lumbosacral strain.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the appeal to obtain a VA medical opinion that considers the Veteran's contentions of in-service training with heavy gear and equipment.
- Granted
The Board granted service connection for lumbosacral strain, finding that the Veteran's low back injury occurred during a period of active duty for training (ADT) and continued therefrom.
- Dismissed
The appeals for restoration of ratings and for a higher disability rating were dismissed as the April 2025 rating decision did not make final decisions on these issues.
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