The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection and an increased rating, finding that his low back strain with ruptured disc warranted a 40 percent disability rating.
The deciding factor: The VA medical evidence did not show any incapacitating episodes of intervertebral disc syndrome or other factors warranting higher ratings under the revised criteria. The veteran's symptoms were adequately addressed by the current 40 percent rating based on limitation of motion and pain.
- Claimed conditions
- major depression with psychotic features, low back strain with ruptured disc
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 40%
- Decision date
- November 7, 2006
- Citation
- 0634466
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 1,710 · Granted: 15% (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 0634466.
What this means for you
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What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Denied
The Veteran's appeal for an increased rating for major depression with psychotic features and SMC based on the need for regular aid and attendance was denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support the grant of these benefits.
- Granted
The Veteran's claim for service connection for schizoaffective disorder was granted with an effective date of October 25, 2011. The decision also noted that the Veteran had previously been denied service connection for major depression with psychotic features in March 2003 and her claim to reinstate benefits related to this condition was received on October 25, 2011.
- Granted
The Board has restored the Veteran's 70 percent evaluation for their acquired psychiatric disability, effective November 1, 2017.
- Granted
The Veteran's major depressive disorder, major depression with psychotic features, and cognitive disorder unspecified are found to have begun during service. The back disability is denied as not related to service. The bilateral neurological disability of the lower extremities is also denied. Other issues remain remanded.
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