The Veteran's appeal was granted for an initial disability rating higher than 10 percent prior to January 18, 2005, and higher than 20 percent thereafter for a lumbar spine disability. Service connection for left and right ankle disorders and left and right leg disorders were denied.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's current radiculopathy of the legs is causally related to his service-connected lumbar spine disability.
- Claimed conditions
- left ankle pain, right ankle pain, left leg disorder, right leg disorder
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 20%
- Decision date
- May 15, 2013
- Citation
- 1315962
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 1315962.
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.
- Granted
The Board has granted the Veteran's request to readjudicate his claims for service connection for a lumbar spine disorder and obstructive sleep apnea, but denied his claim for right knee disorder. The Board also remanded the cases of left leg disorder and lumbar spine disorder.
- Dismissed
The Board has dismissed the Veteran's appeal for service connection for various conditions including hypoglycemia, sinusitis, left foot pes planus, right foot pes planus, right foot plantar fasciitis, left ankle pain, left hip osteoarthritis, left knee sprain, bradycardia, dry eye, hernia, hypercholesterolemia, and bilateral hearing loss.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection for left and right ankle pain due to a pre-decisional duty to assist error. The AOJ should have provided a VA examination/medical opinion prior to denying the claim.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension, organic brain injury (to include dementia), a right eye disorder, a right leg disorder, and sinusitis are being remanded due to the need for additional development of his service treatment records and Social Security Administration records.
Free starter guide for your own claim
Reading this because you were denied or under-rated? Get the plain-English next steps — your appeal options, the deadline that protects you, and how appeals like yours turn out. One email, no spam.
We will only use this to send the guide. No spam, unsubscribe any time. We never sell your information.
We are not the VA. Veterans’ Rights is an independent resource built for veterans. We are not the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, not part of the government, and not endorsed by any government agency.
This is general information, not legal advice. For advice about your own situation, talk to a VA-accredited representative — many help for free.