The Veteran's lumbosacral strain with sciatica (lumbar spine disability) is currently rated at 20 percent, and the Board finds that he is entitled to a separate compensable rating for left lower extremity impairment.
The deciding factor: The medical evidence of record supports findings of left lower extremity impairment associated with the Veteran's service-connected lumbar spine disability. The Veteran consistently complained of increased left leg pain and numbness, which were assessed as radiculopathy by multiple VA examiners throughout the appeal period.
- Claimed conditions
- lumbosacral strain with sciatica (lumbar spine disability), chronic cervical strain due to trauma (cervical spine disability), chronic left wrist strain, chronic right wrist strain
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 20%
- Decision date
- February 2, 2017
- Citation
- 1702860
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 1702860.
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.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection for various disabilities, including a spine disability, left ankle disability, left shoulder condition, and left wrist disability, require additional development due to procedural errors in obtaining medical opinions regarding their etiology.
- Partly granted
The Board granted a 20 percent evaluation for the Veteran's right knee meniscal injury and remanded several service connection claims.
- Partly granted
The Board granted service connection for chronic left wrist strain and right wrist strain, but denied service connection for generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) and bilateral shin splints.
- Granted
The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including unspecified depressive disorder and right shoulder strain, have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation since May 26, 2016. The Board has granted a total disability rating based on individual employability from this date.
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