The Veteran's service-connected lumbar spine disability is rated at 20 percent, with separate ratings for radiculopathy of the left and right lower extremities. The Veteran also has painful scars from her back surgeries.
The deciding factor: The VA examinations confirmed the Veteran's symptoms and functional limitations, warranting a higher rating based on the criteria provided in the General Rating Formula for Diseases and Injuries of the Spine.
- Claimed conditions
- chronic back pain with spondylolisthesis L5-S1, status post-fusion, radiculopathy of the left lower extremity, painful scars
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 20%
- Decision date
- July 19, 2010
- Citation
- 1026803
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 1026803.
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.
- Dismissed
The appeal regarding the proposed reduction of the Veteran's disability rating for radiculopathy of the left lower extremity was dismissed as it was not a final decision. The Board also remanded the claim for service connection for a left hip disability due to an inadequate VA examination.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claims for service connection and increased ratings due to a need for additional development, including obtaining medical opinions and updated VA treatment records.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claims for service connection and increased ratings due to a procedural error regarding notice of the right to a pre-decisional hearing.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claims for service connection for various disabilities, including knee and foot conditions, a low back disability, radiculopathy, tinnitus, and a neck condition, to correct pre-decisional errors in fulfilling VA's duty to assist by rescheduling missed examinations.
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