The Board has determined that the veteran's service-connected low back strain with disc disease warrants a rating of 40 percent, effective from March 2, 1978.
The deciding factor: The medical evidence shows severe limitation of motion and degenerative changes in the lumbosacral spine, which is more consistent with the criteria for a higher evaluation under Diagnostic Code 5295 than the current 20 percent rating.
- Claimed conditions
- Low back strain with disc disease
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 40%
- Decision date
- December 2, 2005
- Citation
- 0532600
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 0532600.
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 a higher disability rating for the Veteran's low back disability, finding that there was no evidence of unfavorable ankylosis or equivalent functional limitations from repeated use over time.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate statement of reasons or bases for the decision and errors in reliance on a December 2017 VA examination.
- Denied
The Board denied an earlier effective date for the grant of a 60 percent disability evaluation for low back strain with disc disease, finding that the first evidence supporting such criteria was dated after April 9, 1998.
- 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.
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