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 assigned
- 20%
- 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. Look up the original decision on VA.gov (opens in a new tab) using citation 1417297.
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 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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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