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Granted

The Board has granted an effective date of October 15, 1998 for the award of a 60 percent schedular rating for the service-connected low back disability. The veteran's claim for an earlier effective date was denied as it is not factually ascertainable that the severity of his condition increased prior to this date.

The deciding factor: The evidence does not show any increase in the severity of the low back disability prior to October 15, 1998. The veteran underwent surgery on March 9, 1999 and was found to have a high grade spondylolisthesis with worsening symptoms.

Claimed conditions
Low back disability
How they argued it
Direct service connection
Exposure basis
None
Rating assigned
60%
Decision date
December 9, 2005
Citation
0533357

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 0533357.

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.

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