The veteran's lumbar herniated nucleus pulposus, formerly rated as lumbar paravertebral myositis, is currently evaluated at a 20 percent disability rating and the Board finds that this rating is appropriate based on his symptoms of recurring attacks with intermittent relief.
The deciding factor: The medical evidence shows persistent neurological findings such as absent knee and ankle jerks, which are consistent with Diagnostic Code 5293 for HNP. The veteran's seeking treatment three to five times a year also supports the recurrence of attacks that do not provide significant relief between episodes.
- Claimed conditions
- lumbar herniated nucleus pulposus (HNP), lumbar paravertebral myositis, moderate limitation of motion of the lumbar spine, central bilateral L5 radiculopathies
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 20%
- Decision date
- April 19, 2002
- Citation
- 0203604
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 0203604.
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 has granted an effective date of September 20, 1996 for the assignment of a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) due to service-connected disabilities.
- Granted
The Veteran's service-connected lumbar paravertebral myositis, disc disease, and spine spondylosis rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation as of March 28, 2018. The Board granted his TDIU claim.
- Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's appeal because his April 2017 substantive appeal was not timely filed, and thus the April 2015 rating decision is final.
- Dismissed
The Veteran's appeals regarding increased ratings for his service-connected low back and left forearm disabilities have been dismissed due to the Veteran withdrawing his appeal in May 2022.
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