The Board has granted a 10 percent rating for lumbosacral strain, including early discogenic changes at L3-4 and L4-5. A separate compensable rating of 10 percent is also granted for pain in the left leg, radiculopathy of the left lower extremity from September 23, 2002.
The deciding factor: The evidence shows that the veteran's lumbosacral spine disorder more closely resembles a moderate intervertebral disc disease with recurring attacks or a lumbosacral strain with spasm on extreme forward bending. The pain in the left leg is equivalent to no more than mild incomplete paralysis of the sciatic nerve.
- Claimed conditions
- lumbosacral strain, early discogenic changes at L3-4 and L4-5
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 10%
- Decision date
- February 28, 2006
- Citation
- 0605672
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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