The Veteran's service-connected lumbar myofascial pain syndrome is manifested by significant muscle spasms and guarding that result in abnormal gait or spinal contour, warranting a 20 percent disability rating.
The deciding factor: Severe muscle spasms and tenderness to the paraspinal muscles resulted in abnormal gait and spinal contour, meeting the criteria for a 20 percent disability rating under Diagnostic Code 5021.
- Claimed conditions
- lumbar myofascial pain syndrome, multiple sclerosis
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 20%
- Decision date
- October 18, 2013
- Citation
- 1332369
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 1332369.
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
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- Denied
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