The Board has granted a disability rating of 60 percent for the appellant's service-connected degenerative disc disease, L3-4-5, effective from May 7, 1996. The previous ratings were denied.
The deciding factor: The evidence showed that beginning on May 7, 1996, the appellant's degenerative disc disease was characterized by pronounced and persistent symptoms of pain, diminished ankle reflexes, with little intermittent relief.
- Claimed conditions
- degenerative disc disease, L3-4-5
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 60%
- Decision date
- December 12, 2002
- Citation
- 0217999
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 0217999.
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
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Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
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The Board granted service connection for lumbar spine degenerative arthritis, degenerative disc disease, lumbosacral strain, and spinal stenosis based on the Veteran's in-service back injury and chronicity of symptoms.
- Granted
The Board granted service connection for lumbosacral strain and degenerative disc disease, finding that the evidence is at least equally balanced in favor of a relationship to an in-service motor vehicle accident.
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