The Veteran's low back strain was rated at 20% since December 5, 2007. Prior to that date, the claim for a higher rating was denied.
The deciding factor: Medical evidence showed that the Veteran had symptoms attributable to his service-connected low back strain but also nonservice-connected conditions like arthritis and scoliosis which affected his ability to work.
- Claimed conditions
- Low back strain, Osteoarthritis, Degenerative Joint Disease of the Cervical and Lumbar Spine, Scoliosis (Levoscoliosis), Compression Fracture of T12 and L1
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 20%
- Decision date
- October 20, 2011
- Citation
- 1139080
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 1139080.
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.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's hearing loss and low back strain claims are remanded for further evaluation. The hearing loss claim is denied, while the low back strain claim requires additional examination to determine its severity.
- Granted
The Board has granted service connection for low back strain, left shoulder, and supraventricular tachycardia (SVT) based on evidence showing a causal relationship to in-service events or injuries.
- Denied
The Veteran's right knee strain with osteoarthritis is currently rated at 10 percent, and the Board has determined that a higher rating is not warranted based on current evidence.
- Dismissed
The appeal is dismissed because the March 2020 rating decision, which granted service connection for a low back strain, was never issued and therefore not an appealable decision.
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