The Board has determined that the veteran's degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine and diffuse mild disc bulge at L4-L5 warrants a 20 percent rating, reflecting muscle spasm on extreme forward bending and loss of lateral spine motion.
The deciding factor: The veteran demonstrated considerable paravertebral muscle spasm and limitation of motion by way of extension and right lateral bending, which justified the assignment of a 20 percent disability rating under Diagnostic Code 5295.
- Claimed conditions
- degenerative disc disease (DDD) of the lumbar spine, diffuse mild disc bulge at L4-L5
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 20%
- Decision date
- February 8, 2006
- Citation
- 0603558
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 1,175 · Granted: 22% (granted or partly granted, in the indexed decisions on this site)
Judge attribution: 2025 complete; earlier years partial.
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. Search VA.gov for the original decision (opens in a new tab) using citation 0603558.
What this means for you
A grant means the Board allowed the benefit or issue identified in this decision. Review the original order: other issues in the same appeal may have a different outcome, and this decision does not predict another claim.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Granted
The Board has granted service connection for a labral tear and cartilage defect of the left shoulder, DDD of the lumbar spine, and SI joint dysfunction due to the Veteran's service-connected low back disability. The decision is based on the current disabilities being causally related to injuries sustained during service.
- Partly granted
The Board granted service connection for a bilateral hip disorder, manifested by pain and degenerative disc disease (DDD) of the lumbar spine. The claim for a hand disorder was denied.
- Partly granted
The Board granted service connection for several conditions, including diabetes mellitus and peripheral neuropathy, but denied increased ratings for intervertebral disc syndrome and other conditions.
- Partly granted
The Board denied service connection for a bilateral knee disability and denied increased ratings for degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine and radiculopathy of the right lower extremity prior to June 7, 2024. The appeal was remanded for other issues.
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