The Veteran's lumbar spine disability resulted in a 40 percent evaluation, effective September 1, 2010. The right leg and left lower extremity radiculopathy associated with the lumbar spine disability were each rated at 10 percent prior to September 1, 2010.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine resulted in forward flexion limited to 30 degrees and no ankylosis. The right leg radiculopathy was found to be mild or greater incomplete paralysis or neuritis of the sciatic nerve, while left lower extremity radiculopathy was found to be mild incomplete paralysis or neuritis of the external popliteal nerve.
- Claimed conditions
- Acquired psychiatric disorder (PTSD), Degenerative disc disease, lumbar spine, Right leg radiculopathy associated with degenerative disc disease, lumbar spine, Left lower extremity radiculopathy associated with degenerative disc disease, lumbar spine
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 40%
- Decision date
- December 31, 2012
- Citation
- 1244310
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 1244310.
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 Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claim of service connection for degenerative disc disease, lumbar spine (claimed as back injury) due to inadequate VA examination and failure to comply with prior remand directives.
- Denied
The Board finds the evidence does not support a finding that the Veteran has an acquired psychiatric disorder related to service, particularly given inconsistencies in his statements and lack of combat service.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has determined that new and relevant evidence has been received to warrant readjudicating the appellant's claim of service connection for the Veteran's cause of death. The case is remanded for further development, including obtaining medical opinions regarding the etiology of the Veteran's death.
- Granted
The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for thoracolumbar spine degenerative arthritis and DDD was granted effective August 29, 2022. Service connection was established for vitreous syneresis / vitreous floaters of both eyes. The claims for service connection for refractive error of both eyes (myopia and astigmatism), bilateral hearing loss disability, residuals of a traumatic brain injury (TBI), obstructive sleep apnea, and an acquired psychiatric disorder (PTSD) were all denied.
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