The Board granted an increased evaluation to 20 percent for lumbosacral strain with arthritis from August 2, 1999. The effective date is March 16, 2005.
The deciding factor: The VA determined that the veteran's symptoms warranted a 20% rating as of March 16, 2005, based on severe limitation of lumbar spine motion and no incapacitating episodes or confirmed neurologic deficit at any time since September 2002.
- Claimed conditions
- lumbosacral strain with arthritis
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 20%
- Decision date
- May 26, 2006
- Citation
- 0615559
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 1,514 · Granted: 19% (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 0615559.
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 Veteran's claim for a higher rating for lumbosacral strain with arthritis was granted, receiving an initial disability rating of 40 percent. The other service connection claims were denied.
- Granted
The appellant is granted SMC(o) and SMC(r)(1) based on his service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, glaucoma, foot drop conditions, sleep apnea, migraines, overactive bladder, and various musculoskeletal issues. He does not qualify for higher rates due to the anatomical loss or use of extremities.
- Partly granted
The Veteran's appeal for an earlier effective date for the evaluation of lumbosacral strain with degenerative arthritis of the spine was granted, while other claims were remanded.
- Denied
The Board denied a rating in excess of 20 percent for lumbosacral strain with arthritis and service connection for a right elbow disorder.
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