The Board has granted a rating of 20 percent for the Veteran's service-connected back disability, effective June 19, 2002. The claim for increased disability rating is granted. Service connection for left lower extremity neurological impairment is granted as it is proximately due to or a result of the service-connected back disability. However, there is no current evidence of a separate service-connected left knee disability.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's back disability was rated based on its functional limitations and pain, which were found to meet the criteria for a 20 percent rating under the General Rating Formula for Diseases and Injuries of the Spine. Service connection for left lower extremity neurological impairment is granted as it is proximately due to or a result of the service-connected back disability. There is no evidence of a separate service-connected left knee disability.
- Claimed conditions
- Back Disability, Left Lower Extremity Neurological Impairment
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 20%
- Decision date
- January 13, 2014
- Citation
- 1401502
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 1401502.
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 Board has determined that the VA rating decision denying service connection for a right knee disability and a back disability is not supported by adequate medical opinions, and thus remands the case for further development.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection of a left knee disability, back disability, and left elbow disability must be remanded due to inadequate VA examinations. The Veteran provided lay reports of symptoms but the VA examiners did not consider these reports in their conclusions.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for right eye, left eye, left knee, and back disabilities due to conflicting statements from the Veteran and inconsistencies in his medical records.
- Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claim of service connection for a back disability, finding that there was no evidence of an in-service injury or disease and that the current condition is not related to service.
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