The Veteran's claims for service connection for radiculopathy of the bilateral legs, peripheral neuropathy of the left and right lower extremities associated with diabetes mellitus, and compression fracture of the thoracic spine were denied. The claim for an effective date earlier than August 28, 2006, for the grant of service connection for peripheral neuropathy was granted.
The deciding factor: The November 2013 VA examination report indicated that the Veteran's radiculopathy and numbness/tingling in the lower extremities were not related to his thoracic spine disability. The examiner also found that the right S1 radiculopathy and left sciatica were due to the lumbar spine disability, not the thoracic spine disability.
- Claimed conditions
- rhabdomyolysis, diabetes mellitus with hypertension, compression fracture of the thoracic spine, radiculopathy of the bilateral legs
- How they argued it
- Secondary to another service-connected condition
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- April 28, 2014
- Citation
- 1418765
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 1418765.
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: Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for radiculopathy, left and right lower extremities as secondary to lumbosacral strain due to a lack of an adequate medical opinion prior to the March 2025 rating decision. The Veteran is advised to cooperate with VA in obtaining relevant evidence.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Board has granted initial disability ratings of 10 percent for rhabdomyolysis of the bilateral lower legs, muscle group XII, effective April 19, 2024. The decision finds that the Veteran's symptoms during the appeal period more nearly approximate moderate muscle disabilities.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Veteran's increased evaluation for rhabdomyolysis is denied, and his service connection claims for other conditions are also denied.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Veteran's rhabdomyolysis was granted service connection, and the right shoulder strain increased to a 30 percent rating. The decision also noted that the Veteran's pain limits her ability to perform normal working movements of the body.
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