The Veteran's lumbosacral strain with degenerative joint disease is currently rated at 20 percent, and the Board has determined that this rating is appropriate under both the old and new criteria. For coronary artery and hypertensive heart disease, a 30 percent evaluation was granted from September 30, 2003 to February 21, 2012, and a 60 percent evaluation was granted thereafter. The Veteran's diabetes mellitus type II is rated at 20 percent since May 8, 2001. Bilateral non-proliferative diabetic retinopathy has not been service-connected. Peripheral neuropathy of the right and left lower extremities, as well as peripheral neuropathy of the right and left upper extremities, have all been rated at 20 percent since May 8, 2001. Erectile dysfunction is also rated at 20 percent.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's lumbosacral strain with degenerative joint disease has not met the criteria for a higher rating under either the old or new criteria. The Board applied both sets of criteria and found that the current 20 percent rating adequately compensates the Veteran for his disability.
- Claimed conditions
- lumbosacral strain with degenerative joint disease
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 20%
- Decision date
- December 10, 2012
- Citation
- 1242118
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 1242118.
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.
- Partly granted
The Veteran's claims for an earlier effective date for TDIU and DEA, as well as the claim for a higher rating for his low back disability, were denied. However, the Board granted an effective date of December 30, 2009, but no earlier, for both TDIU and DEA.
- Denied
The Board denied entitlement to a rating in excess of 40 percent for the Veteran's lumbosacral strain with degenerative joint disease, as the evidence did not support a higher rating based on the current severity and functional impairment.
- Dismissed
The appeal for entitlement to left hip injury, right hip injury, and right hand injury was dismissed as these issues were not properly appealed. The remaining claims are remanded for further development.
- Denied
The claim for a higher rating than 20 percent for lumbosacral strain with degenerative joint disease was denied because the veteran did not attend a scheduled VA examination.
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