The Veteran's chronic low back strain is currently rated at 20 percent, and the Board has granted a rating in excess of 10 percent for residuals of right and left ankle fractures. Service connection for anxiety disorder and arthritis of the ankles to include as secondary to service-connected ankle fractures was also granted.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's chronic low back strain is manifested by flexion to 42 degrees, extension to 0 degrees, lateral flexion to 20 degrees bilaterally, and rotation to 20 degrees bilaterally since November 3, 2008. The Board found that the symptoms are analogous to severe lumbosacral strain with some of the above symptoms.
- Claimed conditions
- chronic low back strain, anxiety disorder, arthritis of the ankles
- How they argued it
- Secondary to another service-connected condition
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 20%
- Decision date
- July 29, 2010
- Citation
- 1028426
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 1028426.
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.
- Partly granted
The Board granted service connection for sleep disturbances, to include obstructive sleep apnea, as secondary to an anxiety disorder. The increased rating claim for the anxiety disorder was denied, and the heart condition claim was dismissed.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for depression, PTSD, and an anxiety disorder due to the lack of a current diagnosis.
- Partly granted
The Board dismissed the appeal for service connection for anxiety disorder and denied service connection for hearing loss. The claims for service connection for GERD, right ankle limitations, and sinusitis were remanded for further development.
- Dismissed
The veteran withdrew the appeal for effective dates prior to September 27, 2024, for the awards of service connection for various knee and back conditions.
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