The Board has determined that the veteran's lumbosacral disc disease warrants a combined rating of 60 percent, based on separate ratings for orthopedic and neurological manifestations.
The deciding factor: The veteran's disability manifests with severe limitation of lumbar motion, moderate incomplete paralysis of the left sciatic nerve, and mild incomplete paralysis of the right sciatic nerve. The criteria for a higher combined rating were met under the revised rating criteria effective September 23, 2002.
- Claimed conditions
- lumbosacral disc disease
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 60%
- Decision date
- February 15, 2006
- Citation
- 0604432
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 2,699 · Granted: 17% (granted or partly granted, in the vetted 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. Look up the original decision on VA.gov (opens in a new tab) using citation 0604432.
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 Veteran's service-connected disabilities, when considered individually, do not preclude him from engaging in gainful employment. Therefore, a TDIU is denied.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's claims for increased evaluations for lumbosacral disc disease and right shoulder traumatic bursitis are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations to assess the severity of his disabilities.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the cases for additional development, including obtaining medical records and conducting VA examinations to assess the severity of the Veteran's lumbosacral disc disease and right shoulder traumatic bursitis.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development due to incomplete records from Eglin AFB medical facilities. The Veteran is not contesting the effective date or rating assigned for service-connected obstructive sleep apnea.
Free starter guide for your own claim
Reading this because you were denied or under-rated? Get the plain-English next steps — your appeal options, the deadline that protects you, and how appeals like yours turn out. One email, no spam.
We will only use this to send the guide. No spam, unsubscribe any time. We never sell your information.
We are not the VA. Veterans’ Rights is an independent resource built for veterans. We are not the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, not part of the government, and not endorsed by any government agency.
This is general information, not legal advice. For advice about your own situation, talk to a VA-accredited representative — many help for free.