The Veteran's chronic low back pain was evaluated at a 20 percent rating from May 10, 2005, to August 23, 2007.
The deciding factor: The evidence showed that the Veteran demonstrated forward thoracolumbar flexion of 90 degrees during the June 2005 VA examination and the examiner opined that repeated activity would likely limit flexion to 45 degrees. This met the criteria for a 20 percent evaluation under the General Rating Formula for Diseases and Injuries of the Spine.
- Claimed conditions
- Chronic low back pain
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 20%
- Decision date
- January 15, 2016
- Citation
- 1601939
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 1601939.
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.
- Denied
The Board has determined that the Veteran is not eligible for benefits under VA's PCAFC program as he does not require personal care services due to inability to perform ADLs or need for supervision, protection, or instruction.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the case for further development to address issues related to a rating in excess of 10 percent prior to December 21, 2022, and in excess of 40 percent thereafter, for residuals of a fracture of the L2 vertebra with chronic low back pain. The propriety of the separately assigned rating for RLE radiculopathy is also remanded.
- Denied
The Board denied the claim for payment of non-VA medical services provided to the Veteran on November 30, 2015, due to lack of prior authorization and because the treatment was not in response to a medical emergency. The VA facility was feasibly available.
- Denied
The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a low back disability, finding that there is no evidence of a current disability related to an in-service injury or disease.
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