The Veteran's low back disorder is currently rated as 10 percent disabling under the provisions of Diagnostic Code 5243 for intervertebral disc syndrome. The Board finds that an evaluation in excess of 10 percent is not warranted.
The deciding factor: The medical evidence shows that the Veteran has neurological manifestations such as radiculopathy, sciatica, mild peripheral neuropathy, and left S1 radiculitis, which are considered part of his intervertebral disc syndrome. However, there is no evidence of muscle spasm or abnormal gait/spinal contour resulting in ankylosis.
- Claimed conditions
- Degenerative disc disease of the thoracolumbar spine, Intervertebral disc syndrome
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 10%
- Decision date
- January 13, 2010
- Citation
- 1002103
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 1002103.
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.
- Partly granted
The Board granted an earlier effective date of September 1, 2016, for the 40 percent rating assigned for degenerative disc disease of the thoracolumbar spine and denied a rating in excess of 40 percent.
- Granted
The Board granted an effective date of June 1, 1996, for the grant of service connection for degenerative disc disease of the thoracolumbar spine because the Veteran did not receive notice of the initial denial in 1996 and his claim remained pending.
- Granted
The Board granted service connection for heart attack (myocardial infarction) status post triple coronary bypass, degenerative disc disease of the thoracolumbar spine, and an initial 10 percent rating for hypertension.
- Partly granted
The Board granted service connection for intervertebral disc syndrome, resolving doubt in favor of the Veteran. The claims for obstructive sleep apnea, GERD, and headache disability were remanded for further development.
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