The Veteran's low back strain with degenerative joint disease was rated at 10 percent prior to April 22, 2009 and at 20 percent from that date. The appeal is granted.
The deciding factor: The VA examination revealed no limitation of motion in the lumbar spine, but pain during range of motion testing resulted in a loss of at least 10 degrees of motion when the Veteran's pain was worse.
- Claimed conditions
- Low Back Strain, Degenerative Joint Disease
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 20%
- Decision date
- March 24, 2010
- Citation
- 1011168
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 1011168.
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 Board remands the claims for service connection for various conditions, including erectile dysfunction, PTSD, depression, frequent urination, intermetatarsal neuroma right foot, left knee condition, right knee condition, low back strain, shoulder strain, and tinnitus, due to a failure to provide necessary examinations.
- Denied
The Board denied the veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for service connection for PTSD and low back strain, as the earliest possible effective date based on his August 5, 2023, intent to file was already assigned.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to consider the appropriate initial evaluations for his service-connected low back disabilities and radiculopathy of the bilateral sciatic nerves, including consideration of whether a higher rating may be assigned under all applicable former and current Diagnostic Codes. The TDIU issue is also being remanded.
- Denied
The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for low back strain prior to July 29, 2015 was denied. The Board found that the evidence did not show forward flexion of the thoracolumbar spine less than 30 degrees or unfavorable ankylosis.
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