The veteran's service-connected degenerative disc disease at L4-5 and L5-S1 is currently rated 40 percent disabling, while his cervical muscle strain with tension headaches is rated 20 percent. The case was remanded for further development.
The deciding factor: The veteran's conditions have been evaluated based on the current rating criteria effective from September 23, 2002.
- Claimed conditions
- Degenerative Disc Disease at L4-5 and L5-S1, Cervical Muscle Strain
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 40%
- Decision date
- May 20, 2005
- Citation
- 0513879
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 0513879.
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 Board denied the veteran's appeal of the propriety of initial evaluations for degenerative disc disease at L4-5 and L5-S1, finding that the criteria for an evaluation in excess of 10 percent prior to August 7, 1996, were not met. The criteria for a 20 percent evaluation are met as of August 7, 1996, but no higher evaluations are warranted.
- Granted
The veteran's PTSD is rated at 10 percent, and service connection for hypertension, irritable bowel syndrome, gastroesophageal reflux, cervical muscle strain, muscle tension headaches, and lumbar muscle strain are granted as secondary to his PTSD.
- Denied
The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected lumbar myositis, psychoneurosis and conversion hysteria, residuals of shrapnel wounds of the left thigh and pelvis with retained foreign bodies and scars, and residuals of shell fragment wounds of the right thigh and left leg. The veteran was also denied entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities.
- Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claim for an initial evaluation in excess of 10 percent for his service-connected coronary artery disease, finding that the evidence did not support a higher rating based on the severity of his condition.
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