The Board has restored the Veteran's original 20 percent rating for lumbar spine degenerative disc disease, effective April 21, 2010, as the reduction was not proper and did not demonstrate an improvement in the Veteran's ability to function under ordinary conditions of life and work.
The deciding factor: The Board found that the reduction from 20 percent to 10 percent was improper due to a lack of evidence showing actual improvement in the Veteran's ability to function under ordinary conditions of life and work, despite an improvement in range of motion.
- Claimed conditions
- lumbar spine degenerative disc disease
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 20%
- Decision date
- July 14, 2016
- Citation
- 1628006
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 1628006.
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 Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claim for service connection for a low back disability, as there are insufficient medical opinions and records. The case will be returned to the AOJ for further development.
- Denied
The Veteran's initial rating for lumbar spine degenerative disc disease was denied, and his claims for right knee, left knee, right hand, left hand, GERD, neck disability, and bilateral hearing loss were also denied. The effective date of service connection for obstructive sleep apnea was granted on December 14, 2022.
- Dismissed
The appeal for service connection of left knee condition, lumbar spine degenerative disc disease, bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy as secondary to lumbar spine degenerative disc disease, left hip osteoarthritis, and right hip osteoarthritis is dismissed due to lack of jurisdiction over the August 2021 rating decision. Service connection for lumbar spine degenerative disc disease, bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy as secondary to lumbar spine degenerative disc disease, left hip osteoarthritis, and right hip osteoarthritis are granted.
- Dismissed
The Veteran has withdrawn his appeals for increased disability ratings in excess of 20 percent for lumbar spine degenerative disc disease and right shoulder labral tear, including superior labral anterior-posterior lesion. The appeal is dismissed.
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