The Board has granted an initial disability rating of 20 percent for the veteran's service-connected residuals of fragment wound to the back, which is analogous to impairment of Muscle Group XX. The veteran does not have a compensable rating for his scar due to lack of evidence of disabling manifestations. Service connection was denied for degenerative joint disease of the lumbar spine as it is not related to military service.
The deciding factor: The veteran's disability picture more nearly approximates moderate impairment of the lumbar spine muscles, warranting a 20 percent rating under Diagnostic Code 5320.
- Claimed conditions
- Residuals of fragment wound to the back, Degenerative joint disease of the lumbar spine
- How they argued it
- Secondary to another service-connected condition
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 20%
- Decision date
- November 16, 2004
- Citation
- 0430358
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 0430358.
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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- Denied
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- Denied
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- Denied
The Veteran's claims for increased disability ratings were denied as he failed to report for scheduled VA examinations without good cause, and the evidence did not show an increase in severity of his service-connected conditions.
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