The veteran's mechanical low back pain has resulted in moderate intervertebral disc syndrome, but not severe enough to warrant a higher rating. The current disability rating of 20 percent is maintained.
The deciding factor: The medical evidence shows that the veteran's intervertebral disc syndrome is moderate in degree and does not meet the criteria for more than a 20 percent rating under Diagnostic Codes 5293 or 4.71a, Diagnostic Code 5295.
- Claimed conditions
- Mechanical low back pain, Intervertebral disc syndrome
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 20%
- Decision date
- November 13, 2006
- Citation
- 0635227
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 0635227.
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.
- Partly granted
The Board granted service connection for intervertebral disc syndrome, resolving doubt in favor of the Veteran. The claims for obstructive sleep apnea, GERD, and headache disability were remanded for further development.
- Granted
The Board granted service connection for a back condition, including degenerative arthritis, lumbosacral strain, intervertebral disc syndrome, and bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy.
- Denied
The Board denied an increased disability rating in excess of 20 percent for the service-connected back disability and an initial disability rating in excess of 10 percent for the right lower extremity radiculopathy.
- Granted
The Board granted service connection for a lumbar spine disorder, namely lumbar spondylosis, lumbosacral strain with degenerative arthritis, and intervertebral disc syndrome as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected retropatellar syndrome, arthritis and meniscal strain, right knee.
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