The Veteran's lumbar sprain with degenerative disc disease at L-5, spondylosis, and scoliosis has been rated as 20 percent disabling since March 2, 2009. The Board found that the disability does not warrant a higher rating based on the current evidence of record.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's lumbar spine disability is currently evaluated at 20 percent under the General Rating Formula for Diseases and Injuries of the Spine due to forward flexion limited to 50 degrees, which falls within the criteria for a 20 percent rating. The Board found no evidence that the disability more closely approximates the criteria for higher ratings.
- Claimed conditions
- lumbar sprain, degenerative disc disease at L-5, spondylosis, and scoliosis
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 20%
- Decision date
- February 7, 2017
- Citation
- 1703716
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 1703716.
What this means for you
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What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran argues that he should have been granted service connection for lumbar sprain and hearing loss as early as 1965 based on his STRs showing these conditions existed in service. The Board finds the RO's failure to adjudicate this CUE claim was an error and remands the matter.
- Granted
The Board granted an earlier effective date of October 2, 2015 for the grant of service connection for lumbar sprain and right lower extremity peripheral neuropathy due to good cause shown for the Veteran's failure to file a Notice of Disagreement within one year of the initial denial.
- Denied
The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for her hip and lumbar sprain conditions, finding that the evidence did not support higher disability ratings.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claims for a lumbar sprain and left lower extremity radiculopathy, femoral nerve to obtain an addendum opinion regarding the severity of these disabilities.
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