The Veteran's increased rating claim for degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine was granted, with a 20 percent disability rating effective April 30, 2009.
The deciding factor: The VA examiner confirmed that the current severity and extent of the Veteran's service-connected lumbar spine disability is unclear, necessitating further development including a new VA examination.
- Claimed conditions
- Degenerative disc disease, lumbar spine with history of pelvic fracture
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 20%
- Decision date
- December 15, 2011
- Citation
- 1145906
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 1145906.
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 Veteran's claim for increased ratings for his service-connected degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine and associated radiculopathy in the right lower extremity was denied. The Board found that a rating higher than 10 percent prior to April 30, 2009, or higher than 20 percent from April 30, 2009, is not warranted.
- 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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