The Board has granted service connection for lumbosacral strain and right facial numbness due to cavernous sinus syndrome, but the initial ratings are both at the minimum (10%) level as they do not meet criteria warranting a higher rating based on current symptoms or medical evidence.
The deciding factor: The veteran's lumbar spine disorder does not meet the criteria for more than a 10% disability rating under the General Rating Formula for Diseases and Injuries of the Spine, as his range of motion is within normal limits. The right facial numbness due to cavernous sinus syndrome meets the criteria for a 10% disability rating based on moderate incomplete paralysis of the fifth cranial nerve.
- Claimed conditions
- lumbosacral strain, right facial numbness
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 10%
- Decision date
- February 24, 2006
- Citation
- 0605270
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.
- Granted
The Board granted service connection for lumbosacral strain, finding that the Veteran's low back injury occurred during a period of active duty for training (ADT) and continued therefrom.
- Partly granted
The Board granted a 20 percent rating for right leg sciatica with radiculopathy pain and paresthesia, but denied increased ratings for PTSD, lumbosacral strain, left wrist limitation of motion with ganglion cyst, and service connection for headaches, unspecified. Several issues were remanded.
- Dismissed
The appeals for restoration of ratings and for a higher disability rating were dismissed as the April 2025 rating decision did not make final decisions on these issues.
- Partly granted
The Board denied a disability rating greater than 10 percent for tinnitus and a rating greater than 20 percent for lumbosacral strain, but granted a 20 percent rating for left lower extremity sciatic radiculopathy and right lower extremity sciatic radiculopathy.
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