The veteran's low back disability was increased to a 100 percent rating effective from July 24, 2002 due to surgery and convalescence. The RO then reduced the evaluation for his low back disability to 20 percent effective October 1, 2002. A separate 20 percent evaluation was assigned for associated left leg neurological deficits.
The deciding factor: The veteran underwent a laminotomy and diskectomy in July 2002 which resulted in significant weakness due to L4-5 nerve root compression, most likely from post-surgical foraminal stenosis or pre-existing nerve damage.
- Claimed conditions
- Low back strain, Degenerative disc disease of the lumbosacral spine, Left peroneal nerve impingement
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 100%
- Decision date
- July 10, 2003
- Citation
- 0315499
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 0315499.
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.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's hearing loss and low back strain claims are remanded for further evaluation. The hearing loss claim is denied, while the low back strain claim requires additional examination to determine its severity.
- Granted
The Board has granted service connection for low back strain, left shoulder, and supraventricular tachycardia (SVT) based on evidence showing a causal relationship to in-service events or injuries.
- Dismissed
The appeal is dismissed because the March 2020 rating decision, which granted service connection for a low back strain, was never issued and therefore not an appealable decision.
- Denied
The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for left ankle and lumbosacral spine disabilities were denied as the evidence did not meet the criteria for higher disability ratings under applicable VA rating criteria.
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