The Board has determined that the veteran's service-connected lumbosacral spine disability warrants a 40 percent rating from September 1, 2005, and denied any higher ratings prior to that date.
The deciding factor: The evidence showed that the veteran's low back disability was manifested by forward flexion of the thoracolumbar spine to 30 degrees or less, which met the criteria for a 40 percent rating under the revised criteria effective September 26, 2003. The Board found no basis to grant higher ratings based on other factors such as ankylosis, muscle spasm, or loss of motion.
- Claimed conditions
- arthritis and degenerative disc disease of the lumbosacral spine
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 40%
- Decision date
- June 15, 2007
- Citation
- 0718165
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 0718165.
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.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling the Veteran for a VA examination to assess his lumbosacral spine, left knee arthritis, and left knee instability.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence regarding the nature and etiology of his heart disease and low back disability. The case will be returned to the AMC for further examination and consideration.
- Denied
The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected lumbar myositis, psychoneurosis and conversion hysteria, residuals of shrapnel wounds of the left thigh and pelvis with retained foreign bodies and scars, and residuals of shell fragment wounds of the right thigh and left leg. The veteran was also denied entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities.
- Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claim for an initial evaluation in excess of 10 percent for his service-connected coronary artery disease, finding that the evidence did not support a higher rating based on the severity of his condition.
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