The Board has determined that the Veteran's service connection for residuals of traumatic brain injury is granted. However, the reduction in his lumbar spine disability rating from 20% to 10%, effective October 1, 2011, was found to be improper due to lack of evidence showing actual improvement and its impact on the Veteran's ability to function.
The deciding factor: The Board found that there was no evidence demonstrating an actual improvement in the Veteran's lumbar spine disability or that such improvement reflected a functional improvement under ordinary conditions of life and work.
- Claimed conditions
- residuals of traumatic brain injury, lumbar spine disability
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 10%
- Decision date
- September 13, 2017
- Citation
- 1738577
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 1738577.
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.
- Granted
The Board has granted service connection for a lumbar spine disability, left lower extremity radiculopathy, and right lower extremity radiculopathy as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected lumbar spine disability.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has decided to remand the claims for miscarriage, cervical spine disability, lumbar spine disability, and right elbow disability due to insufficient examination opinions and incomplete service history verification.
- Dismissed
The Board has dismissed the Veteran's claims for service connection for left knee disability, right knee disability, lumbar spine disability, and obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) as these issues have been addressed in a separate docket.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus. Service connection is being remanded for the lumbar spine disability and right knee and calf disabilities.
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