The Veteran's degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine is rated at 40 percent, and service connection for her psychiatric disorder (anxiety disorder, depression, posttraumatic stress disorder) is granted. The rating for the lumbar spine disability remains unchanged.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine resulted in chronic neurologic manifestations that were not incapacitating episodes but did result in radiculopathy affecting both lower extremities. Service connection was established for her psychiatric disorder, which is separate from the service-connected lumbar spine disability.
- Claimed conditions
- Degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine, Psychiatric disorder (anxiety disorder, depression, posttraumatic stress disorder)
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 40%
- Decision date
- December 13, 2012
- Citation
- 1242611
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 1242611.
What this means for you
A partial grant means some issues were granted while others were denied or remanded — common in multi-issue claims. Look at which issues went which way, and how each was argued.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for his lumbar spine and right hip disabilities due to a duty to assist error. The effective date for DEA benefits is granted as May 1, 2014.
- Denied
The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date and higher initial rating for his back disability is denied. The effective date remains March 29, 2021, as the earliest date of claim. An initial rating in excess of 20 percent for the back disability from March 29, 2021, is also denied.
- Granted
The Veteran's low back disability and right leg radiculopathy are granted service connection, but left leg radiculopathy is denied.
- Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claim for TDIU, finding that his service-connected disabilities do not preclude him from securing or maintaining substantially gainful employment.
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