The veteran's lower back disability is currently rated at 40 percent effective May 2, 2003. The evaluation reflects severe recurring attacks of intervertebral disc syndrome with symptoms such as demonstrable muscle spasm and limited range of motion.
The deciding factor: The veteran's condition met the criteria for a 40 percent evaluation under the revised criteria for intervertebral disc syndrome effective September 23, 2002.
- Claimed conditions
- Degenerative disc disease (DDD) L2-L3 through L5-S1, Mild annulus fibrous bulges at L3-L4 through L5-S1, Left paracentral and posterolateral disc protrusion at L2-L3 extending into the left neural foramen
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 40%
- Decision date
- May 5, 2006
- Citation
- 0613226
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 1,547 · Granted: 20% (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 0613226.
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
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