As per the question, it was mentioned that "Developed and tested using SQL Server 2008 R2 SP2"; so why don`t we use the new features available from SQL Server 2008 onwards like follows:

declare @start float = 1,

@commonDiff float = 3,

@counter float = 0

print 'Begin';

while @counter < 200

begin

set @counter += 1

declare @currVal float = 0

Setting the Variable`s values in the same declaration is more efficient, easier, faster and it looks even better.

BTY; I tested it, got the same results.