The Board granted an initial 40 percent disability rating for the service-connected back disability from November 12, 2021 to July 14, 2023 and restoration of a 40 percent disability rating effective November 13, 2024.

The deciding factor: The evidence showed that the symptoms warranting a 40 percent disability rating were present during the initial rating period from November 12, 2021 to July 14, 2023 and there had been no actual improvement in the disability under the ordinary conditions of life and work at the time of the reduction.

Claimed conditions

Degenerative disc disease, to include lumbosacral strain (back disability)

How they argued it

Direct service connection

Exposure basis

None

Rating assigned

40%

Decision date

December 8, 2025

Citation

A25105448

Want to see how appeals like this one tend to go? Appeals like mine