The Veteran's residuals of a low back injury with lumbosacral strain and T-5 fracture are currently rated at 40 percent, which fully satisfies the Veteran's appeal for an increased rating.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's current forward flexion limitation to 30 degrees without pain meets the criteria for a 40 percent evaluation under the General Rating Formula for Diseases and Injuries of the Spine.
- Claimed conditions
- low back injury with lumbosacral strain, T-5 fracture
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 40%
- Decision date
- August 10, 2009
- Citation
- 0929784
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 0929784.
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 Veteran's low back injury with lumbosacral strain and traumatic arthritis is rated at 40 percent prior to October 31, 2012. From that date, the disability remains rated at 40 percent.
- Denied
The Board denied the veteran's claims for an increased disability rating for his service-connected T-5 fracture and for service connection for numbness of the hands and arms, finding that there was no new evidence to reopen a previously denied claim for cardiovascular condition, and noting that the veteran had not appealed issues regarding cervical spine fractures or entitlement to service connection for residuals of a cervical spine fracture.
- Denied
The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected lumbar myositis, psychoneurosis and conversion hysteria, residuals of shrapnel wounds of the left thigh and pelvis with retained foreign bodies and scars, and residuals of shell fragment wounds of the right thigh and left leg. The veteran was also denied entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities.
- Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claim for an initial evaluation in excess of 10 percent for his service-connected coronary artery disease, finding that the evidence did not support a higher rating based on the severity of his condition.
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.