The Veteran's lumbar spine strain with degenerative disc disease is rated at 40 percent. The left lower extremity radiculopathy is rated at 20 percent from January 9, 2009 to January 5, 2012; and 10 percent prior to that period. An effective date of June 1, 2015 for the 20 percent rating for left ulnar neuropathy with cubital tunnel syndrome is granted.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's lumbar spine strain with degenerative disc disease does not meet criteria for a higher rating as there is no evidence of unfavorable ankylosis or incapacitating episodes requiring bed rest prescribed by a physician. The left lower extremity radiculopathy meets the criteria for a 20 percent rating from January 9, 2009 to January 5, 2012; and a 10 percent rating prior to that period.
- Claimed conditions
- lumbar spine strain with degenerative disc disease, left lower extremity radiculopathy
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 40%
- Decision date
- May 29, 2015
- Citation
- 1522681
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 1522681.
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 service connection for a lumbar spine disability, left lower extremity radiculopathy, and right lower extremity radiculopathy as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected lumbar spine disability.
- Granted
The Board has granted service connection for left lower extremity radiculopathy and denied the claims for right knee disability, erectile dysfunction, GERD, sleep apnea, and hypertension. The decision is remanded for further action on these issues.
- Granted
The Board has granted earlier effective dates for the grant of service connection for middle and index trigger finger/stenosing tenosynovitis of the right hand, left lower extremity radiculopathy, and right lower extremity radiculopathy. The earliest effective date is June 30, 2012, for the right hand condition and April 22, 2016, for bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy.
- Denied
The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have left lower extremity radiculopathy or any related symptoms causing impairment in earning capacity during the appeal period, and therefore service connection for this condition is denied.
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