The Veteran's back disorder, characterized by partial sacralization of the L5 vertebral body on the left and multilevel spondylosis with disc bulges, was granted service connection. The initial rating assigned was 40 percent effective March 19, 2018.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's back disorder met the criteria for a 40 percent rating under Diagnostic Code 5242 due to forward flexion of the thoracolumbar spine being to 30 degrees or less and favorable ankylosis of the entire thoracolumbar spine.
- Claimed conditions
- partial sacralization of the L5 vertebral body on the left, multilevel spondylosis and L3-L4, L4-L5 disc bulges with minimal bilateral neural foramina narrowing
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 40%
- Decision date
- November 15, 2018
- Citation
- 18150428
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 18150428.
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
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