The Veteran's lumbar spine disability was rated at 10 percent for the period from March 22, 2006 to November 7, 2007 and increased to 20 percent effective December 5, 2011.
The deciding factor: VA examinations showed that the Veteran's lumbar spine disability was manifested by painful on motion with decreased flexion and X-ray evidence of degenerative joint disease. The VA examiner did not find muscle spasm causing abnormal spinal contour but found it to be due to pain, resulting in a 20 percent rating.
- Claimed conditions
- L4-L5 and L5-S1 bulging discs, disc desiccation, annular tear at L5-S1
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- November 8, 2012
- Citation
- 1238336
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. Read the original VA decision (opens in a new tab) using citation 1238336.
What this means for you
A grant means the Board allowed the benefit or issue identified in this decision. Review the original order: other issues in the same appeal may have a different outcome, and this decision does not predict another claim.
What you can do next
Use your own notice and decision stage. A remanded issue is not a final court-appealable denial. VA review guidance and CAVC filing instructions (U.S. federal; reviewed October 7, 2026).
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional development and readjudication due to incomplete VA assistance in obtaining relevant medical records.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Veteran's lumbar spine disability resulted in a combined range of motion greater than 120 degrees but less than 235 degrees prior to April 21, 2008. From April 21, 2008 onwards, the disability resulted in limitation of motion and severe pain during flare-ups. The Veteran also has left lower extremity radiculopathy associated with his lumbar spine disability. There is no evidence that the Veteran was treated for sinusitis in service or had any other in-service event or exposure that caused his current sinus disorder.
- Whole decision: Denied
The veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for specially adapted housing or a special home adaptation grant due to lack of qualifying conditions.
- Whole decision: 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.
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