The veteran's initial claim for higher ratings was granted, with a rating of 20 percent effective August 6, 2000 and increased to 40 percent from April 30, 2003. The decision also addressed the severity of his disability prior to that date.
The deciding factor: The veteran's disability met the criteria for a higher rating as of April 12, 2003, warranting a 40% rating for orthopedic impairment and 10% ratings for sciatic nerve involvement on both sides.
- Claimed conditions
- lumbosacral strain with multilevel degenerative disc disease
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 40%
- Decision date
- September 23, 2008
- Citation
- 0832528
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 0832528.
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.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claims for further development as there was not substantial compliance with previous remand directives.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has determined that the evidence is insufficient to make a fully informed decision on the Veteran's claim and remands for further development, including obtaining retrospective range of motion estimates.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim for an evaluation in excess of 10 percent for lumbosacral strain with multilevel degenerative disc disease prior to June 17, 2019 and from June 17, 2019 on. The issues are now pending before the Board.
- Granted
The Veteran's lumbosacral strain with multilevel degenerative disc disease and L5-S1 spondylolisthesis and surgical fusion was granted an initial rating of 50 percent, but no higher. The issue of service connection for functional and neurological impairments as secondary to the lumbar spine disability is remanded.
Free starter guide for your own claim
Reading this because you were denied or under-rated? Get the plain-English next steps — your appeal options, the deadline that protects you, and how appeals like yours turn out. One email, no spam.
We will only use this to send the guide. No spam, unsubscribe any time. We never sell your information.
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.