The veteran's claim for an increased rating for his service-connected laminectomy defect at L5-S1 with decreased disc space at L5-S1 was granted, and he is currently receiving a 10 percent evaluation.
The deciding factor: The VA examiner concluded that the veteran still suffers from low back pain due to chronic degenerative changes, which improved since his surgery. The veteran's testimony supported this finding by describing his ongoing symptoms such as dull, achy pain with shooting pain down into his left lower extremity and constant numbness or tingling across the bottom of his feet.
- Claimed conditions
- laminectomy defect at L5-S1 with decreased disc space at L5-S1
- How they argued it
- Secondary to another service-connected condition
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 10%
- Decision date
- June 19, 2000
- Citation
- 0016147
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 0016147.
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 the cause of the Veteran's death, finding that his lung cancer was related to his service-connected melanoma.
- Partly granted
The Board granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, left knee disability, and right knee disability. The claims for urinary frequency disability and residuals of a cholecystectomy were denied.
- Partly granted
The Board granted a 20 percent disability rating for left and right lower extremity radiculopathy from April 3, 2023 onward, but denied higher ratings prior to that date. Service connection was also granted for alcohol use disorder as secondary to PTSD with traumatic brain injury.
- Partly granted
The Board granted service connection for right lower extremity sciatica associated with the Veteran's service-connected lumbosacral spine strain, but remanded claims for service connection for gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) and sleep apnea.
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