The Veteran's lumbosacral strain is rated at 20 percent, the maximum available rating under the General Rating Formula for Diseases and Injuries of the Spine. A separate 10 percent rating has been granted for left lower extremity neurological manifestations.
The deciding factor: The VA examination reports consistently showed forward flexion of the thoracolumbar spine greater than 30 degrees but not greater than 60 degrees, which corresponds to a 20 percent disability rating under DC 5237. The Veteran's symptoms and functional limitations were consistent with this level of impairment.
- Claimed conditions
- lumbosacral strain, arthritis
- How they argued it
- Not specified
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 20%
- Decision date
- November 29, 2011
- Citation
- 1143676
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 1143676.
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 service connection for tinnitus, arthritis, and memory loss. The decision found no evidence linking these conditions to his military service.
- Granted
The Veteran's service connection claims for lumbosacral strain, asthma, melasma and hydradenitis, hypertension, an acquired psychiatric disorder (claimed as depression, anxiety, and stress), left shoulder disorder, right shoulder disorder, left knee disorder, a left foot disorder, and IBS have been granted. The remaining issues are remanded.
- Dismissed
The Veteran withdrew their appeal for service connection of a lumbosacral strain, resulting in the dismissal of this issue.
- Granted
The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's lumbosacral strain with degenerative arthritis, finding that it is related to his in-service injury. The claimant did not contest this decision.
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