The Veteran is granted a rating of 40 percent for low back strain from February 7, 2010, to November 5, 2014.,She is also granted separate ratings of 20 percent each for bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy since February 7, 2010.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's low back disorder caused significant functional impairment and required use of assistive devices such as a cane or walker.
- Claimed conditions
- Low Back Strain, Bilateral Lower Extremity Radiculopathy
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 40%
- Decision date
- August 24, 2017
- Citation
- 1735066
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 1735066.
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 Veteran's service-connected degenerative arthritis of the cervical spine, lumbar disc disease, bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy, bilateral knee strains, residuals of a left ankle concussion, and bilateral pes cavus are found to be related to his obstructive sleep apnea. His claim for restoration of a 30 percent evaluation for degenerative arthritis of the cervical spine is granted.
- Denied
The Board denied the appellant's eligibility for direct payment of fees from past due benefits awarded in a July 2024 rating decision granting an increased PTSD rating and TDIU.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased rating and service connection due to alleged errors in the May 2021 VA examination, including failure to conduct range of motion testing. The AOJ is instructed to obtain an addendum VA medical opinion addressing the severity of the Veteran's back disability throughout the appeal period and a VA examination regarding bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, lumbar spine disability, and bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy, have rendered him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment. The Board finds that the VA examination provided in July 2024 is internally inconsistent and requires further clarification.
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