The Board found that the reduction of the Veteran's disability rating from 20 percent to 10 percent was improper and restored it to 20 percent effective January 2011. The issue of whether a higher evaluation is warranted for multi-level degenerative disc disease remains pending.
The deciding factor: The medical evidence does not show sustained improvement in the Veteran's condition, nor does it demonstrate forward flexion of the thoracolumbar spine at or below 30 degrees or favorable ankylosis of the entire thoracolumbar spine required for a higher evaluation under Diagnostic Code 5242.
- Claimed conditions
- Multi-level degenerative disc disease
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 20%
- Decision date
- February 21, 2017
- Citation
- 1705142
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 1705142.
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 Board has remanded the case due to inadequate opinions regarding the etiology of the Veteran's low back disorder and whether arthritis manifested within one year of separation from service.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate examination and opinion regarding the Veteran's multi-level degenerative disc disease, specifically in terms of range of motion testing and functional loss.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate opinions regarding the etiology of the Veteran's low back disorder and its relationship to service. The case is now pending for further development.
- Denied
The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected lumbar myositis, psychoneurosis and conversion hysteria, residuals of shrapnel wounds of the left thigh and pelvis with retained foreign bodies and scars, and residuals of shell fragment wounds of the right thigh and left leg. The veteran was also denied entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities.
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