The Board granted a 60% rating for postoperative residuals of degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine, L3-4, L4-5, L5-S1 with radiculopathy and a separate 10% rating for degenerative arthritis. The veteran's service-connected midline surgical scar over the lumbar spine was rated as noncompensable.
The deciding factor: The Board found that the veteran's symptoms of pronounced intervertebral disc syndrome, including sciatic neuropathy with characteristic pain and demonstrable muscle spasm, warranted a 60% rating under Diagnostic Code 5293. The arthritis was rated separately based on its impact on motion.
- Claimed conditions
- Degenerative disc disease, Degenerative arthritis
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 40%
- Decision date
- September 28, 2001
- Citation
- 0123673
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 0123673.
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 a neck injury, including degenerative arthritis, IVDS, spinal stenosis, and history of spinal fusion, based on the evidence showing chronicity since service.
- Granted
The Board granted an effective date of February 25, 2025 for the award of service connection for degenerative disc disease thoracolumbar spine with degenerative arthritis, spinal stenosis, and levoscoliosis.
- Denied
The appeal for an increased rating for left hip, the claims for entitlement to an earlier effective date and an increased rating for right knee strain, and the appeal for an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for left shoulder strain were dismissed. The claim for a 40 percent rating from June 24, 2021 for degenerative disc disease was granted.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claim for a lumbar spine disability as secondary to a cervical spine disability due to an inadequate medical opinion.
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