The Veteran's service-connected disc pathology of the lumbar spine is rated at 40 percent, and he is granted a separate 10 percent evaluation for mild incomplete paralysis of the sciatic nerve in both lower extremities.
The deciding factor: The VA examiner found that the Veteran's range of motion was no worse than forward flexion to 40 degrees, including when objectively taking into account pain on motion. The Veteran also had neurologic impairment of the right and left lower extremities resulting in disability analogous to mild incomplete paralysis of the sciatic nerve.
- Claimed conditions
- Disc pathology of the lumbar spine, Mild degenerative arthritis of the bilateral hips
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 40%
- Decision date
- June 23, 2010
- Citation
- 1023395
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 1023395.
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.
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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.
- Denied
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- Granted
The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD is granted as the evidence shows a current diagnosis of PTSD, an in-service stressor, and a medical link between the two.
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