The Board found that the reduction from a 20 percent to a 0 percent disability evaluation for service-connected traumatic arthritis of the lumbar spine was properly effected and supported by the record. The veteran's combined service-connected disability rating remained at 30 percent, thus no overall reduction in compensation payments occurred.
The deciding factor: The RO reduced the evaluation from 20 to 0 percent based on a VA examination conducted after the veteran filed his claim for an increased rating and maintained the veteran's combined disability rating at 30 percent.
- Claimed conditions
- Traumatic arthritis of the lumbar spine
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 0%
- Decision date
- December 1, 2003
- Citation
- 0333404
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 0333404.
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.
- Denied
The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for PTSD is denied, and their lumbar spine disability remains at a 40 percent rating. The appeal to reopen the depressive disorder claim is dismissed.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further development and readjudication due to the need for additional VA examinations, as well as consideration of extraschedular TDIU.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates and increased disability ratings are being remanded due to the need for additional medical examination. The TDIU claim is also inextricably intertwined with other issues.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the issue of a rating in excess of 10 percent for bilateral hearing loss from January 31, 2012, to June 14, 2018. The Veteran's service-connected disabilities prevent him from securing or following substantially gainful employment effective February 14, 2007.
Free starter guide for your own claim
Reading this because you were denied or under-rated? Get the plain-English next steps — your appeal options, the deadline that protects you, and how appeals like yours turn out. One email, no spam.
We will only use this to send the guide. No spam, unsubscribe any time. We never sell your information.
We are not the VA. Veterans’ Rights is an independent resource built for veterans. We are not the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, not part of the government, and not endorsed by any government agency.
This is general information, not legal advice. For advice about your own situation, talk to a VA-accredited representative — many help for free.