The Veteran's back disability, including radiculopathy of the lower extremities, is rated at 20 percent since September 9, 2014. The claim for a separate rating for radiculopathy of the upper extremities was not addressed in this decision.
The deciding factor: The VA examiner found that the Veteran's symptoms and range of motion were consistent with his current ratings under Diagnostic Codes 5242 and 8621, but did not support additional ratings based on new evidence or reopen the claim for service connection.
- Claimed conditions
- osteoarthritis of the dorsal spine, degenerative disc disease of the thoracolumbar spine
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 20%
- Decision date
- August 11, 2015
- Citation
- 1534307
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 1534307.
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.
- Dismissed
The Board has dismissed the appeals for various rating and service connection claims due to the Veteran's death.
- Granted
The Veteran's bilateral tinnitus is granted as service-connected.,Service connection for alcohol use disorder is denied.,A disability rating of 100% (total) is granted for PTSD, effective from the date of this decision.,A disability rating of 100% (total) is granted for degenerative disc disease of the thoracolumbar spine, effective from the date of this decision.
- Dismissed
The appeal concerning the revisions of evaluations for various conditions and special monthly compensation has been dismissed due to the Veteran's death.
- Granted
The Veteran's service connection claim for degenerative disc disease of the thoracolumbar spine with degenerative arthritis, spinal stenosis, spondylolisthesis, and right lower extremity radiculopathy is granted as it meets the criteria for direct service connection due to an in-service injury during combat operations.
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