The veteran's lumbar spine disability is currently evaluated at 20 percent, and the Board finds that a higher evaluation is not warranted. The thoracic and cervical spine disabilities are each rated as noncompensable. The impingement syndrome of the right shoulder, GERD, and right ear hearing loss are all rated appropriately.
The deciding factor: The veteran's lumbar spine disability has been evaluated at 20 percent since its initial grant in February 1998. The VA examination report from December 1997 showed moderate loss of range of motion with intermittent exacerbations, but no evidence of neurological deficits or severe stenosis. The Board finds that the current evaluation adequately reflects the veteran's disability level.
- Claimed conditions
- spondylolysis with degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine, spondylolysis of the thoracic spine, spondylolysis of the cervical spine, impingement syndrome of the right shoulder, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), right ear hearing loss
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 20%
- Decision date
- June 19, 2002
- Citation
- 0206531
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 0206531.
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.
- Dismissed
The Veteran withdrew his appeals for service connection for gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) and pernicious anemia, and the Board dismissed both appeals.
- Partly granted
The Board granted service connection for right lower extremity sciatica associated with the Veteran's service-connected lumbosacral spine strain, but remanded claims for service connection for gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) and sleep apnea.
- Dismissed
The appeal for a compensable rating for left ear hearing loss, service connection for right ear hearing loss, and bilateral vision condition was dismissed. Service connection for hypertension, congestive heart failure, and coronary artery disease was denied.
- Denied
The Board denied a rating in excess of 10 percent for gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) as the appellant does not have a documented history of recurrent or refractory esophageal stricture(s).
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