The Veteran's service-connected degenerative disc disease at L5-S1 is rated as 20 percent disabling, effective from the date of the rating decision.
The deciding factor: The Veteran testified credibly that his degenerative disc disease at L5-S1 is manifested by two incapacitating episodes per month lasting for several days and flare-ups at least twice a week.
- Claimed conditions
- Degenerative disc disease at L5-S1
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 20%
- Decision date
- March 26, 2009
- Citation
- 0911180
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 2,776 · Granted: 24% (granted or partly granted, in the vetted decisions on this site)
Judge attribution: 2025 complete; earlier years partial.
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 0911180.
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 Veteran's claims for higher ratings for his service-connected low back and bilateral shoulder disabilities, as well as the extension of a temporary total disability rating due to convalescence following surgery on his lumbar spine, are being remanded due to failure to substantially comply with previous Board instructions.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has decided to remand the case due to a lack of recent VA examination for the Veteran's low back disability, which may affect its severity assessment.
- Granted
The Board has granted service connection for degenerative disc disease at L5-S1 and back arthritis, finding that the Veteran's symptoms of back arthritis started during service and have been continuous since then. The decision is based on presumptive service connection due to chronic disease.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for degenerative disc disease at L5-S1, right foot plantar fasciitis, and left foot plantar fasciitis due to a lack of evidence linking these conditions to his military service. The case is being remanded for further development.
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.