The veteran's lumbar strain disability was rated at 10 percent from January 29, 2001 to August 8, 2002. The RO denied his request for an earlier effective date of August 9, 2002 for a 40 percent rating due to the presence of disc bulge and degenerative changes. His current disability rating remains at 40 percent.
The deciding factor: The veteran's lumbar strain disability was rated based on its severity during the period from January 29, 2001 to August 8, 2002, when it was characterized as having slight limitation of motion. The RO denied his request for an earlier effective date due to the presence of additional conditions (disc bulge and degenerative changes) that warranted a higher rating.
- Claimed conditions
- lumbar strain, disc bulge and annulus tear at L2-3, degenerative changes per MRI
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 10%
- Decision date
- August 29, 2005
- Citation
- 0523695
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 0523695.
What this means for you
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The Board has granted service connection for lumbar strain and lumbar intervertebral disc syndrome with left sciatica. The right lower extremity sciatica claim is remanded due to a duty-to-assist error.
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