The Board has granted a 40 percent rating for the veteran's chronic low back strain since February 20, 2007. The other issues were not addressed as they are not part of this decision.
The deciding factor: The evidence showed marked limitation of forward bending and loss of lateral motion with osteo-arthritic changes in the thoracolumbar spine, which is considered a severe lumbosacral strain under Diagnostic Code 5295. The veteran's symptoms met the criteria for this rating.
- Claimed conditions
- chronic low back strain, left lower extremity neuropathy, right lower extremity neuropathy, rectal sphincter dysfunction, urinary incontinence
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 40%
- Decision date
- November 25, 2008
- Citation
- 0840696
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 0840696.
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.
- Granted
The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's left knee disability, but denied her claims for acid reflux disease and urinary incontinence. The decision also remanded her bilateral shoulder disabilities.
- Dismissed
The Veteran's appeal has been dismissed as he withdrew his appeal prior to the Board making a decision.
- Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for non-diabetic peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral lower extremities and urinary incontinence, finding no current diagnoses or credible evidence supporting these conditions.
- Dismissed
The Board has dismissed the appeals for left hip arthritis, right hip arthritis, type II diabetes, right lower extremity neuropathy, left lower extremity neuropathy, and sleep apnea as they have become service-connected in other rating decisions.
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