The veteran's service-connected mechanical low back pain was rated as 40 percent disabling effective March 10, 2006.
The deciding factor: Forward flexion of the thoracolumbar spine was limited to 20 degrees beginning March 10, 2006, which met the criteria for a 40 percent rating under the new criteria.
- Claimed conditions
- Mechanical low back pain
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 40%
- Decision date
- March 28, 2008
- Citation
- 0810497
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 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.
- Denied
The Veteran's service-connected disabilities alone did not prevent him from securing or maintaining substantially gainful employment prior to December 11, 2009. The Board denied the claim for TDIU on both schedular and extraschedular grounds.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's claim for service connection of a mechanical low back disability is reopened. The Board finds additional development necessary due to the possibility of worsening knee disabilities and new onset of lower back pain.
- Denied
The veteran's claims for increased ratings for headaches, pelvic disability, thoracic spine DDD, and mechanical low back pain were denied as the evidence did not support higher ratings.
We are not the VA. Veterans’ Rights is an independent resource built for veterans. We are not the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, not part of the government, and not endorsed by any government agency.
This is general information, not legal advice. For advice about your own situation, talk to a VA-accredited representative — many help for free.