The Board has granted an increased evaluation to 40 percent for the service-connected degenerative disc disease at L4-5, effective from February 6, 2002.
The deciding factor: The veteran's disability picture more closely approximates a severe functional loss due to pain, weakness and fatigability with muscle spasm, but findings of pronounced intervertebral disc syndrome are not demonstrated.
- Claimed conditions
- Degenerative disc disease at L4-5
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 10%
- Decision date
- November 29, 2004
- Citation
- 0431541
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 0431541.
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 Board remands the claims for an evaluation in excess of 20 percent for degenerative disc disease at L4-5 and an initial evaluation in excess of 10 percent for left knee strain due to deficiencies in the VA examinations.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling a VA examination to assess the Veteran's back disability. The Veteran is seeking an increased rating for her service-connected postoperative residuals of degenerative disc disease at L4-5.
- Granted
The Veteran is granted an annual clothing allowance for the year 2011 due to his service-connected low back brace causing premature wearing of his clothing.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's claim for service connection for degenerative disc disease at L4-5 is being remanded due to the need to obtain additional service personnel records and a medical opinion.
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