The Board has granted a 40 percent rating for lumbosacral strain with disc disease from June 17, 2008 to November 13, 2010. The Veteran's disability is rated under the General Rating Formula for Diseases and Injuries of the Spine.
The deciding factor: The VA examiner found that during flare-ups, the Veteran’s lumbosacral strain may have been more disabling than what was objectively shown on examination, leading to a functional limitation of 60 percent. Considering this, the Board determined that the Veteran's disability approximated forward flexion limited to 30 degrees or less.
- Claimed conditions
- lumbosacral strain with disc disease
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 40%
- Decision date
- November 1, 2018
- Citation
- 18146837
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 18146837.
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.
- Partly granted
The Veteran's lumbosacral strain with disc disease was initially rated at 20 percent from June 17, 2008 to November 13, 2010 and later increased to 40 percent since November 14, 2010. The decision is mixed as the Veteran's condition did not meet criteria for higher ratings during certain periods.
- Denied
The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him helpless or so disabled that he needs regular aid and attendance from another person.
- Denied
The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for lumbosacral strain with disc disease and left lower extremity radiculopathy were denied as the evidence did not meet the criteria for a higher rating under the applicable VA Schedule for Rating Disabilities.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the case for compliance with its April 2007 remand directives, including providing the veteran with proper notice and additional evidence. The case will be reviewed by the RO after all necessary development is completed.
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