The VA has granted an increased evaluation of 40 percent for the veteran's service-connected chronic lumbar strain, effective from the date of the May 2003 rating decision. The veteran's claim for TDIU remains pending.
The deciding factor: The evidence did not show that the veteran’s service-connected chronic lumbar strain was severe enough to warrant a higher evaluation or meet the criteria for ankylosis, which would allow for a higher rating under the revised criteria.
- Claimed conditions
- Chronic lumbar strain
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 40%
- Decision date
- October 31, 2006
- Citation
- 0633662
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 684 · Granted: 25% (granted or partly granted, in the indexed 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. Search VA.gov for the original decision (opens in a new tab) using citation 0633662.
What this means for you
A grant means the Board allowed the benefit or issue identified in this decision. Review the original order: other issues in the same appeal may have a different outcome, and this decision does not predict another claim.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Dismissed
The Board dismissed the appeals pertaining to effective dates for increased ratings of chronic lumbar strain and LLE radiculopathy, finding that the Veteran did not properly opt into the AMA system.
- Denied
The Veteran's claims for increased ratings were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a rating higher than 20 percent for chronic lumbar strain, and denied other claims.
- Denied
The Board denied entitlement to a TDIU prior to April 3, 2014, as the evidence did not show that the Veteran was unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation due to his service-connected disabilities.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for service-connected back conditions, left lower extremity radiculopathy, and right lower extremity radiculopathy. The effective date for the award of service connection for left lower extremity radiculopathy is also being remanded.
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