The Veteran's service-connected residuals of a herniated nucleus pulposus at L5-S1 warrant an initial disability rating of 20 percent, effective from the date of the decision. Additionally, he is also entitled to separate 10 percent ratings for associated radiculopathy affecting his right lower extremity as of March 9, 2011 and for adjustment disorder with mixed anxiety and depressed mood since May 31, 2007.
The deciding factor: The most probative evidence indicates the Veteran's low back disability causes pain and consequent limitation of motion to 60 degrees. However, as of March 9, 2011, there is also associated radiculopathy affecting his right lower extremity causing mild incomplete paralysis of the sciatic nerve.
- Claimed conditions
- Herniated Nucleus Pulposus at L5-S1
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- April 17, 2014
- Citation
- 1417297
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 1417297.
What this means for you
A grant means the Board allowed the benefit or issue identified in this decision. Review the original order: other issues in the same appeal may have a different outcome, and this decision does not predict another claim.
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 Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), finding that his service-connected panic disorder with obsessive-compulsive personality and herniated nucleus pulposus at L5-S1 caused him to be obese, which is an intermediary step in causing OSA.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Board has denied service connection for a low back disorder, right knee arthritis, and left knee pain. The Veteran's current conditions are diagnosed as degenerative disc disease, herniated discs, and arthritis of the lumbar spine.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Board has granted a 60 percent evaluation for the veteran's service-connected degenerative joint disease and herniated nucleus pulposus of the lumbosacral spine, finding that the symptoms meet the criteria for such an increased rating.
- Whole decision: 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.
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