The Board has granted the Veteran's claims for separate 20 percent ratings for radiculopathy of the right and left lower extremities, a TDIU rating, and retroactive Dependents' Educational Assistance (DEA) under Chapter 35. The effective dates are set to April 10, 2003.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's service-connected low back disability has resulted in neurological manifestations that have been rated since at least January 4, 1994, when he met the percentage criteria for a TDIU rating. The effective dates are set to April 10, 2003, as this is the earliest date of evidence showing an increase in disability and the date entitlement arose.
- Claimed conditions
- Low back disability
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 20%
- Decision date
- April 17, 2009
- Citation
- 0914558
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 0914558.
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 Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a low back disability and an increased rating for his acquired psychiatric disorder. The Board found that there was no evidence linking the current disabilities to military service.
- Denied
The Veteran's service-connected low back disability alone does not prevent him from securing and following a substantially gainful occupation.
- Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a low back disability and bilateral hip disability, finding that there was no evidence linking these conditions to his military service.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's claims for increased disability evaluation and effective dates are being remanded due to the need for a new VA examination to address the severity of his low back disability, including whether he has experienced incapacitating episodes of IVDS.
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