The Veteran's degenerative joint and disc disease of the lumbar spine is currently rated at 40 percent since May 21, 1991. The Veteran's left lower extremity sciatica was initially rated as non-compensable prior to October 11, 2002, but has been rated at 10 percent since that date.,The Veteran's degenerative joint and disc disease of the lumbar spine is currently rated at 40 percent. The Veteran's left lower extremity sciatica was initially rated as non-compensable prior to October 11, 2002, but has been rated at 10 percent since that date.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's degenerative joint and disc disease of the lumbar spine is currently rated based on its severity and associated symptoms such as pain, stiffness, tenderness, muscle spasms, guarding, painful and limited motion, impaired gait, loss of balance, lower extremity weakness, incoordination, fatigue, spasms, tingling, burning, and decreased sensation. The left lower extremity sciatica is rated based on the severity of its associated neuralgia.
- Claimed conditions
- Degenerative Joint and Disc Disease of the Lumbar Spine, Sciatica of the Left Lower Extremity
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 40%
- Decision date
- February 12, 2018
- Citation
- 1809124
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 1809124.
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.
- Granted
The Board has granted service connection for Degenerative Joint Disease of the Lumbar Spine and Sciatica of the Left Lower Extremity, finding that both conditions are related to the Veteran's military service.
- Denied
PTSD, a back condition, and flat feet were not granted service connection prior to October 22, 2008.,The Veteran's claims for these conditions were submitted after the one-year period following separation from active duty.
- Denied
The Veteran's specific phobia, situational tight spaces, is not productive of occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity. The right thumb arthritis does not meet the criteria for a higher evaluation.
- Denied
The Veteran's lumbar spine disability was granted a 40% rating for the period prior to November 20, 2010. For the period on appeal, his claim for an increased rating was denied.
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