The Veteran's initial rating for low back disability was granted at 20 percent from February 14, 2000 through August 18, 2005. From August 19, 2005, the Veteran is rated at 40 percent for his service-connected lumbar spine disability.
The deciding factor: The VA examiner's findings during the period from February 14, 2000 through August 18, 2005 did not meet the criteria for a higher rating under Diagnostic Code 5292 (limitation of motion) or Diagnostic Code 5293 (intervertebral disc syndrome).
- Claimed conditions
- Low back strain with osteoarthritis and degenerative disc disease
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 20%
- Decision date
- October 4, 2011
- Citation
- 1137386
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 1137386.
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The Veteran has withdrawn his appeals for the initial increased ratings for low back strain with osteoarthritis and degenerative disc disease, rated as 20 percent disabling from October 22, 2004 to December 26, 2006, and as 40 percent disabling since December 27, 2006; and for radiculopathy with peripheral neuropathy of the right lower extremity, rated as 10 percent disabling from October 22, 2004 to May 19, 2008, as 20 percent disabling from May 20, 2008 to July 7, 2011, and as 40 percent disabling since July 8, 2011.
- 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.
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