The Board finds that the reduction of the Veteran's disability ratings for degenerative disc disease, lumbar spine and tender scarring, abdomen from inguinal hernia repair was proper as there was improvement in both conditions.
The deciding factor: Both the Veteran's back condition and his scar had improved as demonstrated by the VA examination reports provided.
- Claimed conditions
- Degenerative Disc Disease, Lumbar Spine, Tender Scarring, Abdomen (from Repair of Inguinal Hernia)
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 10%
- Decision date
- May 8, 2015
- Citation
- 1519961
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 1519961.
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 back disability was rated at 10 percent from August 31, 2009, to February 18, 2010, and May 1, 2010, to October 9, 2019. After October 9, 2019, the Veteran's disability was rated at 20 percent.,The Veteran is seeking a higher rating for his back disability after October 9, 2019.
- Denied
The Veteran's degenerative disc disease, lumbar spine is currently rated at 20 percent and the Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted based on the evidence of record. The Veteran’s forward flexion was found to be up to 40 degrees with pain in the December 2019 VA examination.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's claims for increased ratings are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations to assess the severity of his service-connected disabilities.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has determined that additional medical examinations are needed to assess the current severity of the Veteran's service-connected conditions, including adjustment disorder with mixed anxiety and depressed mood, degenerative disc disease lumbar spine, left lower extremity radiculopathy, right lower extremity radiculopathy, and left ankle lateral collateral ligament sprain with osteoarthritis. The Board has also determined that a remand is necessary for the issue of entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability prior to May 9, 2016.
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