The Veteran's service-connected low back disability, manifested by limitation of motion with pain and muscle spasm, is rated at 20 percent under the revised criteria for evaluating disabilities of the spine effective September 23, 2002. The rating reflects incapacitating episodes having a total duration of at least four weeks but less than six weeks during the past 12 months.
The deciding factor: The Veteran experienced incapacitating episodes with intervertebral disc syndrome totaling four weeks or more in the past year, which warranted a 40 percent evaluation under Diagnostic Code 5293.
- Claimed conditions
- lumbar strain, compression fracture T11 with fusion of T10-T12
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 20%
- Decision date
- January 14, 2010
- Citation
- 1002444
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 1002444.
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
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Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
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- Remanded (sent back)
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