The Board has determined that the veteran's low back pain, to include degenerative joint disease at L5-S1, warrants a 20 percent evaluation.
The deciding factor: The veteran's symptoms of muscle spasms and loss of lateral spine motion are consistent with slight limitation of lumbar spine motion, which corresponds to a 10% rating under Diagnostic Code 5292. However, the Board found that these symptoms also meet the criteria for a 20% evaluation based on lumbosacral strain with muscle spasm and loss of lateral spine motion.
- Claimed conditions
- Degenerative Joint Disease (L5-S1)
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 20%
- Decision date
- April 28, 2005
- Citation
- 0511916
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 0511916.
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
The Veteran's service-connected musculoligamentous strain, right knee, is currently rated at 10 percent and the Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted.
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