The Veteran's service-connected degenerative disc disease of the lumbosacral spine and peripheral neuropathy of both lower extremities have not met the criteria for a higher disability rating under the applicable VA rating schedule.
The deciding factor: The medical evidence does not show that the Veteran's lumbar spine condition or his bilateral lower extremity neuropathies meet the criteria for a higher than 10 percent disability rating, as they do not demonstrate ankylosis of the thoracolumbar spine, incapacitating episodes requiring bed rest and treatment by a physician, or severe incomplete paralysis with marked muscular atrophy.
- Claimed conditions
- Degenerative disc disease of the lumbosacral spine, Peripheral neuropathy of the right lower extremity, Peripheral neuropathy of the left lower extremity
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- February 3, 2016
- Citation
- 1603836
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 1603836.
What this means for you
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What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Granted
The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including his bilateral lower extremity neuropathy due to diabetes mellitus, have resulted in loss of use of both lower extremities. The Board has granted eligibility for specially adapted housing and dismissed the claim for a special home adaptation grant as moot.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has decided to remand the case due to a duty to assist error, requiring clarification on whether the Veteran's left lower extremity peripheral neuropathy is early-onset and if it is related to Agent Orange exposure during service.
- Granted
The Board has granted service connection for peripheral neuropathy of both the right and left lower extremities, finding that it is at least as likely as not caused by or aggravated by the Veteran's service-connected hypertension.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the left upper and lower extremities due to herbicide agent exposure, as there is a pre-decisional duty to assist error that occurred prior to the date of the AOJ decision on appeal.
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