The Board granted a disability evaluation of 60 percent for the veteran's low back disability beginning September 23, 2002. The previous rating was 40 percent.
The deciding factor: The veteran experienced incapacitating episodes of intervertebral disc syndrome with total duration of at least six weeks during the past 12 months.
- Claimed conditions
- lumbosacral strain with sciatica
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- July 11, 2003
- Citation
- 0315581
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. Search VA.gov for the original decision (opens in a new tab) using citation 0315581.
What this means for you
A grant means the Board allowed the benefit or issue identified in this decision. Review the original order: other issues in the same appeal may have a different outcome, and this decision does not predict another claim.
What you can do next
Use your own notice and decision stage. A remanded issue is not a final court-appealable denial. VA review guidance and CAVC filing instructions (U.S. federal; reviewed October 7, 2026).
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Veteran's claims of service connection for dry eye syndrome, lumbosacral strain with sciatica, and traumatic brain injury were denied. The Board found no evidence to support a direct relationship between the claimed conditions and active service.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Board has determined that the Veteran's current lumbosacral strain with sciatica is related to his active military service, and thus grants the claim for service connection.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for lumbosacral strain with sciatica was denied. The claim to reopen the service connection for arteriosclerotic cardiovascular disease with myocardial infarction was also denied, as new and material evidence had not been received since a previous denial in 1988. The Veteran's claim for service connection for basal cell carcinoma was denied.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The veteran's claim for an increased rating for lumbosacral strain with sciatica is being remanded due to the need for additional medical records and a VA examination.
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