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Denied

The Board denied the veteran's claims for a temporary total rating and reduction of his disability evaluation, finding that the surgery was not related to a service-connected condition and that the reduction from 40% to 20% as of October 1, 2003, was proper.

The deciding factor: The June 2003 surgery was for treatment of a congenital abnormality of the spine rather than a service-connected disability. The Board found no material improvement in the veteran's condition that would warrant reducing his disability evaluation from 40% to 20%.

Claimed conditions
lumbosacral disc disease with lumbar stenosis, nonservice-connected congenital abnormality of the spine
How they argued it
Direct service connection
Exposure basis
None
Rating assigned
20%
Decision date
February 28, 2007
Citation
0705652

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 0705652.

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