The Veteran's lumbar strain and right shoulder strain were rated, with the lumbar strain receiving a 10% rating prior to November 8, 2020, and a 20% rating thereafter. The right shoulder strain received a 20% rating before November 8, 2020, and a 30% rating from that date forward.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's lumbar spine disability was rated based on painful motion under the General Rating Formula for Diseases and Injuries of the Spine. The right shoulder strain received separate ratings as it manifested differently over time.
- Claimed conditions
- Chronic lumbar strain with degenerative disc disease (DDD)
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 20%
- Decision date
- May 20, 2021
- Citation
- 21030989
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 21030989.
What this means for you
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Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Granted
The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, finding that it is secondary to his service-connected migraine headaches and chronic lumbar strain with DDD.
- Granted
The Board has determined that the Veteran is entitled to a higher evaluation of 40 percent for his service-connected lumbar spine disability, as it results in forward flexion restricted to 30 degrees or less.
- Denied
The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected lumbar myositis, psychoneurosis and conversion hysteria, residuals of shrapnel wounds of the left thigh and pelvis with retained foreign bodies and scars, and residuals of shell fragment wounds of the right thigh and left leg. The veteran was also denied entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities.
- Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claim for an initial evaluation in excess of 10 percent for his service-connected coronary artery disease, finding that the evidence did not support a higher rating based on the severity of his condition.
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