The Board has granted a higher evaluation of 20 percent for the veteran's service-connected lumbar spine disorder, but denied an increased rating for his hiatal hernia.
The deciding factor: The medical evidence showed moderate limitation of motion in the lumbar spine, warranting a 20% evaluation under the criteria for lumbosacral strain and intervertebral disc syndrome.
- Claimed conditions
- Hiatal Hernia, Lumbar Spine Disorder
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 20%
- Decision date
- June 7, 2006
- Citation
- 0616645
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 1,613 · Granted: 30% (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 0616645.
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
An effective date of September 7, 2018 is granted for service connection of PTSD.,A higher initial rating for hiatal hernia prior to May 2, 2017 is denied.,TDIU from September 7, 2018 is granted.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's claim for service connection for a gastrointestinal disability, including hiatal hernia and GERD, is remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions. The Board finds that new evidence has been submitted but does not consider it relevant to the current decision.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for an initial compensable rating for service-connected IBS, service connection for a lumbar spine disorder, and service connection for a right foot disorder require further examination and consideration due to incomplete medical opinions and lack of evidence regarding the onset and continuity of symptoms.
- Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for right leg and lumbar spine disorders, finding no evidence of such conditions during periods of active or inactive duty training.
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