The Veteran's claim for a higher initial rating for mechanical low back pain with facet arthropathy at L5-S1 was denied, but the Board granted a higher 40 percent rating effective October 18, 2012. The TDIU issue is also granted.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's lumbar spine disability has been rated based on its severity and functional impairment without any presumption or secondary service connection considerations.
- Claimed conditions
- Mechanical low back pain with facet arthropathy at L5-S1, Bronchial asthma with chronic bronchitis, Depressive disorder due to another medical condition with anxious distress, Chronic medial collateral ligament strain, left knee, Chronic medial collateral ligament strain, right knee, Left knee instability, Right knee instability, Hypertension
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 40%
- Decision date
- February 7, 2017
- Citation
- 1703715
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 1703715.
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 claim of service connection for hypertension, finding that it did not manifest during service and is not causally related to the Veteran's exposure to herbicides or service.
- Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for hypertension, finding that there was no evidence of a nexus between his current condition and active duty service or herbicide exposure.
- Denied
The Board has denied service connection for hypertension and has remanded the issue of an increased rating for skin condition.
- Granted
The Board has restored the Veteran's 10% rating for hypertension effective December 1, 2025 and denied a rating in excess of 10%. The reduction from 10% to noncompensable was not proper.
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