The Board has determined that the veteran's back injury with spondylolysis of L4-L5 and grade I spondylolisthesis of L5-S1 warrants a rating in excess of 40 percent, but not for left lumbar radiculopathy. The veteran is currently rated at 40 percent for his primary disability.
The deciding factor: The evidence shows that the veteran's back injury with spondylolysis and grade I spondylolisthesis has resulted in significant functional impairment, including limitation of motion, sensory loss, tenderness, and paravertebral muscle spasms. The Board finds that a higher rating is warranted based on these findings.
- Claimed conditions
- Back injury with spondylolysis of L4-L5 and grade I spondylolisthesis of L5-S1, Left lumbar radiculopathy
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 40%
- Decision date
- July 7, 2006
- Citation
- 0619834
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 952 · Granted: 17% (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 0619834.
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 service-connected disabilities combine to preclude substantially gainful employment, and the Board has granted a TDIU.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claims for further development and to correct duty-to-assist errors related to the Veteran's back condition, left leg pain, hypertension, tinnitus, knee strain, and sleep apnea.
- Denied
The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for lumbar degenerative disc disease, left and right lumbar radiculopathy, and left ankle lateral collateral ligament sprain.
- Granted
The Board has granted service connection for right and left lumbar radiculopathy, but the issue of service connection for a right ankle disability as secondary to right foot plantar fasciitis is remanded.
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