The Veteran's left lower extremity radiculopathy and degenerative disc disease at L4-5 were both rated as 20 percent disabling, effective from the date of his claim.
The deciding factor: The VA determined that the Veteran's conditions met the criteria for a 20 percent evaluation based on their current severity.
- Claimed conditions
- degenerative disc disease at L4-5, left lower extremity radiculopathy associated with degenerative disc disease at L4-5
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 20%
- Decision date
- August 25, 2009
- Citation
- 0931821
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 0931821.
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.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's service connection claim for degenerative arthritis of the spine with degenerative disc disease at L4-5, and L5-S1 is being remanded due to insufficient evidence in his claims file.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain additional medical records and for a VA examination to assess the severity of his service-connected back disability. The matter will be further adjudicated based on the new evidence.
- Denied
The Veteran's claims for increased ratings were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not meet the criteria for an evaluation in excess of the assigned disability ratings.
- Denied
The Veteran's service-connected lumbosacral strain disability is manifested by x-ray findings of spondylosis, MRI findings of osteoarthritis and degenerative disc disease at L4-5 with secondary mild neural foraminal narrowing. The Veteran has marked limitation of forward bending in the standing position (most severely to 65 degrees), loss of lateral motion, some muscle spasms, and functional impairment due to pain. As these symptoms do not meet or approximate the criteria for a higher rating under any applicable diagnostic code.
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