The Board found that the veteran's lumbar discogenic disease, post-spinal fusion at L3-L4, L4-L5, and L5-S1, warranted a reduction from 40% to 20% disabling effective August 1, 2006. The evidence showed improvement in her disability since May 2005.
The deciding factor: The veteran's range of motion was found to be greater than 30 degrees and did not result in ankylosis or incapacitating episodes, meeting the criteria for a 20% evaluation under the General Rating Formula for Diseases and Injuries of the Spine.
- Claimed conditions
- lumbar discogenic disease, spinal fusion
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 20%
- Decision date
- September 30, 2008
- Citation
- 0833536
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 0833536.
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.
- Dismissed
The Veteran's appeal for service connection regarding cervical strain with IVDS, spinal fusion, and spinal stenosis was dismissed because the Veteran died during the pendency of the appeal.
- Granted
The Veteran's low back disability, neck disability, and left knee condition are all granted as service connected.,Right lower extremity radiculopathy, left lower extremity radiculopathy, right upper extremity radiculopathy, and left upper extremity radiculopathy are also granted as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected disabilities.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the case due to errors in providing a statement of reasons and bases for its decision, specifically regarding the August 2022 VA examination that did not provide range of motion findings. The Veteran's medications are also being considered.
- Granted
The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for lumbar degenerative arthritis of the spine, spinal fusion, spinal stenosis, and DDD including as secondary to his service-connected pes planus. The decision is based on a finding that the Veteran's current back disability is 'but-for' caused by his service-connected foot disability.
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