The Veteran's mechanical low back pain is productive of forward flexion limited to 30 degrees, meeting the criteria for a 40 percent disability evaluation.
The deciding factor: Forward flexion of the thoracolumbar spine was limited to 30 degrees, which meets the criteria for a 40 percent rating under Diagnostic Code 5242.
- Claimed conditions
- mechanical low back pain
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 40%
- Decision date
- May 11, 2010
- Citation
- 1017337
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 1017337.
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 Board granted service connection for mechanical low back pain, musculoskeletal neck and cervical spine, and ear condition (such as earaches) based on the evidence showing that these conditions had their onset during active service with continuity of symptoms to the present.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remanded all issues to the VA for further examination and documentation. The Veteran's claims are being sent back to the VA for additional evaluations.
- Remanded (sent back)
The appeal for service connection of mechanical low back pain and congenital fusion of L3-4 is remanded. The Board needs more information to decide if the condition was aggravated by military service.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remanded the veteran's claims for increased disability ratings for mechanical low back pain and right lower extremity radiculopathy. The Board needs to obtain additional medical records and conduct a VA nerve examination.
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.