The veteran's lumbosacral strain with degenerative disc disease and herniated disc at L5-S1 is currently rated as 20 percent disabling, but the Board has determined that a higher 40 percent rating is warranted based on more severe symptoms. The pseudofolliculitis barbae of the face and neck is currently rated as noncompensably disabling.
The deciding factor: The veteran's lumbosacral strain with degenerative disc disease and herniated disc at L5-S1 has been found to have a more severe symptomatology, including daily back pain characterized by tenderness, palpable muscle spasms, painful range of motion, limitation of motion, stiffness, and intermittent sciatic neuropathy. The Board determined that these symptoms warrant the highest 40 percent rating under DC 5293.
- Claimed conditions
- lumbosacral strain, degenerative disc disease and herniated disc at L5-S1, pseudofolliculitis barbae
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 40%
- Decision date
- November 21, 2000
- Citation
- 0030421
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 0030421.
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.
- 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.
- Denied
The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection, with the exception of remanding certain issues.
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