The Veteran's low back disability is rated at 40 percent, effective November 16, 2009. He also has separate ratings for radiculopathy of the left lower extremity and right-sided mild incomplete paralysis of the sciatic nerve.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine with thoracolumbar spondylosis resulted in forward flexion limited to 30 degrees or less, meeting the criteria for a 40 percent rating under Diagnostic Code 5243.
- Claimed conditions
- Degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine with thoracolumbar spondylosis, Sinusitis (not explicitly stated as service-connected)
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 40%
- Decision date
- January 3, 2011
- Citation
- 1100062
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 1100062.
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.
- Denied
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
The Veteran's service-connected musculoligamentous strain, right knee, is currently rated at 10 percent and the Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted.
- 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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