The Veteran's initial disability ratings for his service-connected degenerative disc disease and associated radiculopathy have been granted, with a rating of 20 percent each.
The deciding factor: The VA examinations confirmed the presence of degenerative changes in the lumbosacral spine and herniated discs, which resulted in moderate incomplete paralysis of the sciatic nerve as evidenced by radiating pain to the lower extremities.
- Claimed conditions
- Degenerative disc disease of the lumbosacral spine at L4-5 and L5-S1, Herniation of the nucleus pulposus at L4-5 and L5-S1
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 20%
- Decision date
- April 11, 2011
- Citation
- 1114176
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 1114176.
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 veteran's degenerative disc disease of the lumbosacral spine at L4-5 and L5-S1 is currently rated as 40 percent disabling, but does not meet the criteria for a higher evaluation.
- Denied
The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected lumbar myositis, psychoneurosis and conversion hysteria, residuals of shrapnel wounds of the left thigh and pelvis with retained foreign bodies and scars, and residuals of shell fragment wounds of the right thigh and left leg. The veteran was also denied entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities.
- Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claim for an initial evaluation in excess of 10 percent for his service-connected coronary artery disease, finding that the evidence did not support a higher rating based on the severity of his condition.
- Denied
The Veteran's service-connected musculoligamentous strain, right knee, is currently rated at 10 percent and the Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted.
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