The Board has determined that the reduction of the disability rating from 40 to 20 percent for low back strain with degenerative disc disease was proper. The veteran is currently entitled to a 40 percent disability rating for this condition.
The deciding factor: The evidence did not show findings indicative of sciatic neuropathy or other conditions that would warrant consideration of higher ratings under different diagnostic codes.
- Claimed conditions
- low back strain with degenerative disc disease
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 40%
- Decision date
- July 14, 2006
- Citation
- 0620536
Veterans Law Judge
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 0620536.
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Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Partly granted
The Board granted service connection for migraines, including migraine variants, secondary to the Veteran's service-connected disabilities and granted a TDIU rating on an accrued basis.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claims for increased ratings for cervical spine and low back disabilities to obtain additional medical opinions addressing functional loss during flareups and with repeated use over time.
- Dismissed
The Veteran's appeals have been withdrawn, and the Board has dismissed all issues on appeal.
- Partly granted
The Veteran's claim for an effective date of May 28, 2014 for a 20% rating for service-connected low back strain with degenerative disc disease is granted.,The Board has also remanded the issues of whether new and material evidence has been received to reopen a claim for residuals, neck injury, and entitlement to service connection for jaw fracture residuals.
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