The veteran's service-connected lumbar spine disability was initially rated at 10 percent and increased to 20 percent effective March 19, 2008. The claim for uterine fibroids resulted in a noncompensable rating. The cervical spine disability warranted a separate 10 percent evaluation for right L4-5 radiculopathy. No higher evaluations were granted for the other service-connected conditions.
The deciding factor: The veteran's lumbar spine disability was rated under Diagnostic Codes 5237 and 5242, resulting in a 20 percent rating effective March 19, 2008. The cervical spine disability warranted a separate 10 percent evaluation for right L4-5 radiculopathy.
- Claimed conditions
- Degenerative Arthritis of the Lumbar Spine, Degenerative Arthritis of the Cervical Spine
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 20%
- Decision date
- October 10, 2008
- Citation
- 0835026
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 0835026.
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.
- Granted
The Veteran's service-connected degenerative arthritis of the cervical spine, lumbar disc disease, bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy, bilateral knee strains, residuals of a left ankle concussion, and bilateral pes cavus are found to be related to his obstructive sleep apnea. His claim for restoration of a 30 percent evaluation for degenerative arthritis of the cervical spine is granted.
- Dismissed
The Veteran's claims for increased disability ratings have been dismissed as the appeals were not properly initiated.,Claims related to service connection and effective dates have also been dismissed.
- Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for right knee degenerative arthritis and degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine, finding no clear and unmistakable error in the July 2019 rating decision.
- Granted
The Veteran's initial ratings for degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine and radiculopathies of both lower extremities have been granted, with effective dates from December 3, 2020, to October 7, 2024.
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