The Board granted increased evaluations for the veteran's low back strain, left and right lower extremity radiculopathy, and residuals of a fracture to his left ankle.
The deciding factor: The VA examinations provided evidence consistent with muscle spasm on extreme forward bending or loss of lateral spine motion, warranting a 20% disability rating under Diagnostic Code 5295. The intervertebral disc syndrome was evaluated as moderate based on the findings from the June 2003 VA examination.
- Claimed conditions
- Low back strain, Degenerative disc disease of L4-5 with radiculopathy
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 20%
- Decision date
- December 16, 2005
- Citation
- 0533919
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 0533919.
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.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's hearing loss and low back strain claims are remanded for further evaluation. The hearing loss claim is denied, while the low back strain claim requires additional examination to determine its severity.
- Granted
The Board has granted service connection for low back strain, left shoulder, and supraventricular tachycardia (SVT) based on evidence showing a causal relationship to in-service events or injuries.
- Dismissed
The appeal is dismissed because the March 2020 rating decision, which granted service connection for a low back strain, was never issued and therefore not an appealable decision.
- Denied
The Veteran's initial rating for his service-connected low back strain was denied, as the current severity of his condition does not meet the criteria for a higher rating.
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