The Board granted an initial rating of 20 percent disabling for lower back strain, effective from May 6, 2024.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's symptoms during flare-ups and daily pain supported a 20 percent rating under the criteria for forward flexion greater than 30 degrees but not greater than 60 degrees.
- Claimed conditions
- lower back strain
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 20%
- Decision date
- October 7, 2024
- Citation
- A24063973
What this means for you
A partial grant means some issues were granted while others were denied or remanded — common in multi-issue claims. Look at which issues went which way, and how each was argued.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for chronic fatigue syndrome, benign prostatic hyperplasia, erectile dysfunction, and lower back strain as the evidence did not support a finding that these conditions were incurred in or caused by active service.
- Dismissed
The appeal for an earlier effective date and a compensable rating for chronic cough was denied, while the claims for service connection for lower back strain, spinal fusion surgery, L3-4 foraminotomy, L4-5 discectomy, and gout in the right foot were remanded.
- Partly granted
The appeal for service connection for sleep disorder is dismissed, and the Veteran's claims for service connection for alcohol use disorder, generalized anxiety disorder, somatic symptom disorder, bilateral hearing loss, and lower back strain are denied. The Board granted a 70 percent rating for PTSD.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the issues of entitlement to an initial rating in excess of 20 percent for lower back strain and a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) from June 25, 2015.
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