The veteran's claims for higher initial evaluations and increased ratings were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher evaluation for low back syndrome, but granted compensable evaluations for dry skin of the feet.

The deciding factor: The VA schedule of ratings does not allow for an evaluation higher than 10 percent for lumbosacral strain without additional criteria being met (such as muscle spasm on extreme forward bending or loss of lateral spine motion). The veteran's symptoms did not meet these criteria, and her limitation of motion was only slight.

Claimed conditions

Low back syndrome, Irritable bowel syndrome with abdominal pain and hiatal hernia, Patellofemoral pain syndrome of the right knee, Patellofemoral pain syndrome of the left knee, Degenerative joint disease of the right wrist, hand, and metacarpal-phalangeal joints, Degenerative joint disease of the left wrist, hand, and metacarpal-phalangeal joints, Diabetes mellitus

How they argued it

Direct service connection

Exposure basis

None

Rating assigned

None in this decision

Decision date

October 31, 2002

Citation

0215415

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 0215415.