The Board has granted an initial rating of 40 percent for the service-connected lumbar spine disability with degenerative changes, effective from April 26, 2012. The Veteran is also in receipt of separate ratings for radiculopathy of each lower extremity.
The deciding factor: The evidence showed consistent severe impairment of the service-connected low back disability throughout the appeal period, which was found to be equivalent to flexion restricted to 30 degrees or less when considering pain and other functional loss factors.
- Claimed conditions
- lumbar spine disability with degenerative changes
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 40%
- Decision date
- August 29, 2014
- Citation
- 1438705
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 1438705.
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 to the RO for completion of an examination and additional development. The issues are whether he should receive a higher rating for his service-connected lumbar spine disability with degenerative changes, and if he has lumbar radiculopathy that is secondary to this condition.
- 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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