The Veteran's low back disability has been evaluated at a 10 percent rating since the initial grant of service connection. The evidence shows that his range of motion is sufficient to meet this rating, with no additional limitation due to pain or other factors.
The deciding factor: The Veteran’s range of motion in the thoracolumbar spine does not warrant an evaluation higher than 10 percent as it falls within the criteria for a 10 percent rating under Diagnostic Code 5237 (General Rating Formula for Diseases and Injuries of the Spine).
- Claimed conditions
- lumbar strain, multi-level degenerative joint disease, lower lumbar facet degenerative changes, disc disease L5-S1
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 10%
- Decision date
- April 14, 2015
- Citation
- 1516017
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 1516017.
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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The Board has granted service connection for lumbar strain and lumbar intervertebral disc syndrome with left sciatica. The right lower extremity sciatica claim is remanded due to a duty-to-assist error.
- Granted
The Board has determined that the Veteran's back disability, diagnosed as lumbar strain, spinal stenosis and degenerative disc disease (DDD) of the lumbar spine, is causally related to service. As such, service connection for this condition is granted.
- Granted
The Veteran's claims for service connection for left ankle sprain, right ankle sprain, anxiety with situational type phobia, left hip strain, left knee strain, right knee strain, and lumbar strain are granted effective March 3, 2022.,An earlier effective date of March 3, 2022, is assigned for the Veteran's service connection claims.
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