The Board finds that the reduction of the Veteran's lumbar spine disability rating from 30% to 20% effective December 1, 2008 was proper. The Veteran's claim for increased ratings and TDIU are granted.
The deciding factor: The July 2015 rating decision found clear and unmistakable errors in previous rating decisions and re-rated the Veteran's lumbar spine disability based on updated evidence of record showing improvement.
- Claimed conditions
- Degenerative disc disease with associated compression fractures, Scheuermann's disease
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 20%
- Decision date
- June 22, 2016
- Citation
- 1625138
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 1625138.
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.
- Granted
The Board has granted service connection for the appellant's thoracolumbar spine disability and Scheuermann's disease, finding that these conditions were caused or aggravated by events during his active-duty military service.
- Granted
The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's degenerative arthritis and degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine with spinal fusion, finding that his pre-existing Scheuermann's disease was aggravated by service. The decision also remanded the issue of service connection for a right knee disability.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the TDIU issue due to a lack of an updated VA examination and incomplete employment information. The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including his recently granted back-related bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy, are being evaluated for their impact on his ability to secure and follow substantially gainful employment.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's claim for a higher disability rating for his service-connected Scheuermann's disease is being remanded due to the need for an updated VA examination. The address provided by the Veteran was incorrect, and he failed to report for the scheduled examination.
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