The Veteran's recurrent low back strain was granted a 40% rating from June 13, 2012 to April 27, 2014. Prior to this period and after it, the condition did not warrant higher ratings.
The deciding factor: The VA examinations showed that the Veteran's forward flexion of the thoracolumbar spine was limited to less than 30 degrees during periods when he had flare-ups or pain, which met the criteria for a 40% rating under the General Rating Formula for Diseases and Injuries of the Spine.
- Claimed conditions
- Recurrent low back strain
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 40%
- Decision date
- December 1, 2021
- Citation
- 21071646
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 21071646.
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.
- Denied
The Veteran's recurrent low back strain is currently rated at 10 percent, but the Board found that it does not meet the criteria for a higher rating based on the current evidence.
- Dismissed
The Board has dismissed the Veteran's claims for service connection and higher ratings for various conditions, including an acquired psychiatric disorder, bilateral hearing loss, sleep apnea, cyst in pancreas, right and left Achilles tendonitis, hemorrhoids, residuals of a cholecystectomy, cataracts and glaucoma, chronic kidney disease with hypertension, and coronary artery disease. The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral knee arthritis has been reopened.
- Denied
The application to reopen the claim of recurrent low back strain was granted, but service connection for this condition is denied.,Service connection for bilateral hallux valgus and onychomycosis were both denied.
- Denied
The Veteran's claim for an increased evaluation of his recurrent low back strain was denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a rating in excess of 40 percent, as there is no evidence of forward flexion of the thoracolumbar spine of 30 degrees or less, nor unfavorable ankylosis of the entire thoracolumbar spine.
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