The Veteran's disability rating for his service-connected degenerative disc disease (DDD) of the lumbar spine with intervertebral disc syndrome with nerve root involvement at the L3, L4, and L5-S1 levels has been increased to 60 percent.
The deciding factor: The Veteran experienced incapacitating episodes of intervertebral disc syndrome totaling twelve or more weeks per year during the past 12 months, which meets the criteria for a 60% disability rating under the General Formula for Diseases and Injuries of the Spine.
- Claimed conditions
- Degenerative disc disease (DDD) of the lumbar spine with intervertebral disc syndrome with nerve root involvement at the L3, L4, and L5-S1 levels
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 60%
- Decision date
- August 21, 2013
- Citation
- 1326717
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 1326717.
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.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to scheduling issues for a videoconference hearing. The current rating of 20% for his service-connected DDD disability remains unchanged.
- 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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