The Board has granted a 40 percent rating for the Veteran's low back disability, effective March 29, 2006. For bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy prior to May 27, 2009, the Veteran is rated at 10 percent each leg; from May 27, 2009, he is rated at 20 percent each leg.
The deciding factor: The evidence shows that the Veteran's low back disability results in limitation of flexion to 30 degrees or less and moderate radiculopathy of both lower extremities compatible with moderate incomplete paralysis of the sciatic nerve. The Veteran did not have ankylosis, incapacitating episodes lasting at least six weeks within a year, or muscle atrophy.
- Claimed conditions
- Low back disability, Bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 40%
- Decision date
- November 23, 2016
- Citation
- 1645054
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 1645054.
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.
- Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a low back disability and an increased rating for his acquired psychiatric disorder. The Board found that there was no evidence linking the current disabilities to military service.
- Denied
The Veteran's service-connected low back disability alone does not prevent him from securing and following a substantially gainful occupation.
- Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a low back disability and bilateral hip disability, finding that there was no evidence linking these conditions to his military service.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's claims for increased disability evaluation and effective dates are being remanded due to the need for a new VA examination to address the severity of his low back disability, including whether he has experienced incapacitating episodes of IVDS.
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