The Veteran's back disability is currently rated at 20 percent, and the Board finds that this rating adequately reflects his symptoms. The neurological impairment has been found to be no more than slight before March 1, 2013, and moderate thereafter. The right hip disability is also rated at 20 percent, with a separate 10 percent for instability after March 1, 2013. The left knee disability remains rated at 10 percent, but the Veteran's right elbow disability has been found to warrant an increased rating of 10 percent. Finally, the plantar fasciitis is rated at 10 percent.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's back disability does not meet or approximate criteria for a higher rating under any applicable diagnostic code due to lack of evidence of ankylosis or flexion limited to less than 30 degrees. The neurological impairment has been found to be no more than slight before March 1, 2013, and moderate thereafter. The right hip disability is rated at 20 percent under the General Rating Formula for Diseases and Injuries of the Spine, with a separate 10 percent rating for instability after March 1, 2013. The left knee disability remains rated at 10 percent due to lack of evidence of ankylosis or limitation of motion beyond flexion limited to less than 45 degrees. The right elbow disability has been found to warrant a separate 10 percent rating for painful motion.
- Claimed conditions
- Back disability
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 20%
- Decision date
- August 26, 2016
- Citation
- 1633843
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 1633843.
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 denied the Veteran's claim for service connection of a back disability, finding that there was no evidence to support a nexus between his current condition and active duty service.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claim for a back disability due to incomplete service records and failure to consider all available evidence, including in-service treatment records from F.E. Warren Air Force Base.
- Granted
The Veteran's rating for residuals status post lumbar fusion was reduced from 40 percent to 20 percent effective October 25, 2023. The reduction was granted as there was no evidence of actual improvement in the Veteran's condition prior to this date.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's claim for service connection for a back disability is being remanded due to duty-to-assist errors and the need for a VA examination.
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