The veteran's service-connected recurrent low back strain is rated at 20 percent, effective October 5, 1996. The hiatal hernia remains rated at 10 percent.
The deciding factor: The evidence shows moderate limitation of motion and some demonstration of muscle spasm on forward bending for the veteran's service-connected recurrent low back strain, warranting a 20% rating since service connection was granted. For his hiatal hernia, symptoms include persistent epigastric distress with dysphagia, pyrosis, regurgitation, substernal or arm/shoulder pain, and considerable impairment of health, meeting the criteria for a 30% evaluation.
- Claimed conditions
- Recurrent low back strain, Hiatal hernia
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 20%
- Decision date
- July 30, 2002
- Citation
- 0208695
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 0208695.
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.
- Partly granted
The Board granted service connection for sleep apnea, a left knee disorder, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), hiatal hernia, and diverticulitis. A 30 percent rating was also granted for the Veteran's generalized anxiety disorder effective February 26, 2021.
- Partly granted
The Board denied service connection for bilateral cataracts and noncompensable ratings for bilateral hearing loss and maxillary and frontal sinusitis, while granting a 30 percent rating for hiatal hernia.
- Partly granted
The Board granted service connection for a right shoulder condition diagnosed as bicipital tendonitis and acromioclavicular joint osteoarthritis, and an initial rating of 30 percent for sinusitis. The claims for acid reflux, hiatal hernia, and esophagitis were remanded.
- Granted
The Veteran's effective date for TDIU and DEA benefits was granted from March 6, 2018.
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