The Board has granted a 60 percent evaluation for the service-connected lumbosacral strain, status post L3-L4 laminectomy, which is the maximum schedular evaluation assignable under applicable Diagnostic Codes.
The deciding factor: The current 40 percent rating contemplates complaints of considerable pain with associated functional limitation. The negative evidence includes the fact that the recent clinical evidence does not reveal an absence of deep tendon reflexes in the lower extremities and appellant can still work as a postmaster despite severe back and lower extremities pain.
- Claimed conditions
- lumbosacral strain, degenerative disc disease
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 60%
- Decision date
- July 25, 2001
- Citation
- 0119279
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 0119279.
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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