The Board granted a 40 percent rating for the Veteran's service-connected low back disability, effective as of August 29, 2007. The previous evaluation was 20 percent.
The deciding factor: The VA examinations and medical records supported the need for an increased rating based on the severity of the Veteran's symptoms and functional impairment.
- Claimed conditions
- chronic low back pain with degenerative disc disease
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 40%
- Decision date
- May 15, 2013
- Citation
- 1315938
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 1315938.
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 clothing allowance claims for a back brace and motorized wheelchair are denied because the back brace does not cause wear and tear to his clothing, and the motorized wheelchair is used for non-service-connected lower extremity impairment.
- Dismissed
This decision dismisses the Veteran's appeals for service connection of gout and evaluations in excess of 40 percent for chronic low back pain with degenerative disc disease, left lower extremity lumbar radiculopathy, and right lower extremity lumbar radiculopathy. The effective dates for the grant of service connection for left and right lower extremity radiculopathy are set as July 23, 2003.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development of her service-connected low back and right leg radiculopathy disabilities, including a new VA examination to determine the current severity of her lumbar spine disability.
- Remanded (sent back)
The veteran's claims for higher initial evaluations for chronic low back pain with degenerative disc disease and arthritis of the left knee are being remanded to allow for additional development, including VA examinations.
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