The Board has determined that the veteran's service-connected low back disability, characterized by moderate symptomatology including pain and functional loss, warrants a 20 percent rating under the old criteria for intervertebral disc syndrome.
The deciding factor: The veteran's overall low back disorder more closely approximates the criteria associated with a 20 percent evaluation under Diagnostic Code 5293 due to his moderate symptomatology including pain and functional loss.
- Claimed conditions
- chronic low back pain, mild to moderate spondylolisthesis of L5 on S1, degenerative disc disease at L5-S1
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 20%
- Decision date
- May 22, 2003
- Citation
- 0309637
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 0309637.
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 denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and remanded claims for chronic low back pain, upper back pain, right hand disability, left hand disability, headaches, and right knee disability.
- Granted
The Board granted service connection for multiple disabilities, including various musculoskeletal conditions and mental health disorders.
- Partly granted
The Board denied service connection for bilateral sensorineural hearing loss and remanded the claims for other conditions due to insufficient evidence.
- Dismissed
The Veteran withdrew the appeal for service connection for chronic back pain, right lower extremity radiculopathy, and a left knee disability secondary to the service-connected right knee patellofemoral syndrome.
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