The Board granted an increased evaluation of 40 percent for lumbosacral strain with history of lumbar stenosis, degenerative disc disease, degenerative joint disease, postoperative laminectomy, medial facetectomy, foraminotomy, fusion, BAK implants, and postoperative pain with bilateral radiculopathy. The veteran's combined evaluation is 50 percent due to his service-connected disabilities.
The deciding factor: The VA examinations showed significant improvement in the veteran's back condition following surgery, but continued symptoms of colitis without objective evidence of current symptoms.
- Claimed conditions
- Low back strain, Colitis
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 40%
- Decision date
- December 12, 2001
- Citation
- 0127250
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 0127250.
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.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for insomnia, fatigue, gallstones, varicose veins, anemia, colitis, and PTSD due to a lack of evidence supporting the claims.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claim for an increased rating for low back strain to correct a pre-decisional duty to assist error.
- Granted
The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including the side effects of medication taken to treat his back disability, precluded substantially gainful employment consistent with his education and occupational experience.
- Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 10 percent for his low back strain based on the evidence showing that the disability did not meet the criteria for a higher rating.
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