The veteran's residuals of low back injury with traumatic degenerative changes are rated at 20 percent, as the evidence shows muscle spasm severe enough to result in abnormal spinal contour but not by forward flexion limited to 30 degrees or less, ankylosis of the entire thoracolumbar spine, incapacitating episodes of intervertebral disc syndrome having a total duration of at least 4 weeks during the past 12 months, or significant neurologic impairment.
The deciding factor: The veteran's condition was found to meet the criteria for a 20 percent rating based on muscle spasm severe enough to result in abnormal spinal contour but not by forward flexion limited to 30 degrees or less, ankylosis of the entire thoracolumbar spine, incapacitating episodes of intervertebral disc syndrome having a total duration of at least 4 weeks during the past 12 months, or significant neurologic impairment.
- Claimed conditions
- residuals of low back injury with traumatic degenerative changes
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 20%
- Decision date
- May 19, 2008
- Citation
- 0816395
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
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