The Veteran's radiculopathy of both upper extremities is not caused or aggravated by his service-connected low back sprain.,The VA examiner concluded that the claimed left lower extremity radiculopathy is less likely than not secondary to the service-connected low back sprain.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's radiculopathy of both upper extremities was found to be unrelated to his service-connected low back sprain, as evidenced by a VA examination in February 2007 which concluded that the radiculopathy is a different disease entity unrelated from service-connected low back sprain.
- Claimed conditions
- Radiculopathy of the upper extremities
- How they argued it
- Secondary to another service-connected condition
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- January 9, 2014
- Citation
- 1401080
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. Read the original VA decision (opens in a new tab) using citation 1401080.
What this means for you
A final Board denial may be appealed to the U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims, generally within 120 days of the Board mailing date. A Supplemental Claim with new and relevant evidence is a separate option. Another Higher-Level Review of the Board decision is not available. Check your own notice: this historical decision does not set your deadline.
What you can do next
Use your own notice and decision stage. A remanded issue is not a final court-appealable denial. VA review guidance and CAVC filing instructions (U.S. federal; reviewed October 7, 2026).
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Veteran is granted a higher level of SMC at the intermediary level N1/2 from October 20, 2020 to June 7, 2022. This decision resolves doubt in favor of the Veteran.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Board denied service connection for gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) and dismissed the appeals regarding cervical spine disability and radiculopathy of the upper extremities.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the claims for neck disability and radiculopathy of the upper extremities due to insufficient development. The Veteran's current neck disability is not service-connected as there is no evidence linking it to an in-service injury or event, despite credible lay statements of continuity of symptoms since service.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the claims for service connection of various lower and upper extremity disorders, as well as a left shoulder disorder, to allow for additional development. The Veteran's thoracolumbar spine disorder is found to be at least as likely as not related to his military service.
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