The Veteran's initial lumbosacral spine disability rating has been increased to 20 percent effective May 4, 2018.,The Veteran's GERD has been rated at 30 percent effective November 30, 2012.
The deciding factor: The VA examinations conducted prior to May 4, 2018 showed that the lumbosacral spine disability was manifested by complaints of low back pain with a full range of motion. However, on the May 4, 2018 examination, forward flexion was limited to 60 degrees due to pain.,The VA examinations conducted throughout the appeal period documented persistent symptoms including epigastric distress, dysphagia, pyrosis, recurrent nausea and vomiting, episodes of bowel disturbance with more or less constant abdominal distress, and substernal pain.
- Claimed conditions
- lumbosacral spine disability, GERD
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 20%
- Decision date
- January 8, 2019
- Citation
- 19101309
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 Board granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) and special monthly compensation (SMC) housebound status, but dismissed the claims for initial ratings in excess of 40 percent for lumbosacral spine disability, left lower extremity radiculopathy, and right lower extremity radiculopathy.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for various conditions, including a head injury, headache disorder, erectile dysfunction, left earache disorder, chronic fatigue, right shoulder disorder, irritable bowel syndrome, right foot disorder, GERD, and left shoulder disorder, as the evidence did not support current diagnoses of these conditions.
- Dismissed
The Veteran withdrew her appeal of all claims currently pending before the Board, including those for an earlier effective date for hypothyroidism and higher ratings for various conditions.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for multiple disabilities, including bilateral wrist, ankle, foot, shoulder, allergic rhinitis, sinusitis, lumbosacral spine, and carpal tunnel syndrome, as the evidence did not support a finding that these conditions were related to active service.
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