The veteran's low back disorder is rated at 60 percent, the highest available rating under the old criteria for intervertebral disc syndrome. The right and left knee disorders are each rated at 10 percent.
The deciding factor: The veteran's low back disorder demonstrated severe limitation of motion with muscle spasms and discomfort at rest, warranting a higher evaluation than what was previously assigned.
- Claimed conditions
- degenerative disc and joint disease of the lumbar spine, bilateral sacroiliac sclerosis
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 60%
- Decision date
- February 8, 2007
- Citation
- 0704083
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 0704083.
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.
- Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claim for an effective date prior to February 8, 2023 for the grant of a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities (TDIU) because it is not factually ascertainable that his service-connected conditions caused him to become unemployable within one year before filing the claim.
- Granted
The Veteran is granted special monthly compensation (SMC) at the intermediate rate between the (m) and (n) rates based on his service-connected conditions.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands multiple claims for higher initial ratings and other benefits due to the need for additional development, including an examination regarding atrophy in the Veteran's legs.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claim for a VA opinion to address whether the Veteran's lumbar spine disability manifested in the functional equivalent of unfavorable ankylosis during flare-ups.
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