The Veteran's claims for higher ratings for his service-connected cervical and back disabilities were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a rating in excess of 10 percent prior to March 23, 2017, for RLE radiculopathy; nor did it support a rating in excess of 20 percent from March 23, 2017, for cervical and back disabilities.
The deciding factor: The evidence did not show that the Veteran's service-connected conditions were more severe than what was reflected by the assigned ratings.
- Claimed conditions
- right lower extremity radiculopathy, chronic cervical strain with limitation of motion (cervical disability), degenerative osteoarthritis of the lumbar and thoracic spine with limitation of motion of the lumbar spine (back disability)
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- December 18, 2017
- Citation
- 1758634
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 1758634.
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.
- Dismissed
The Veteran's appeals were dismissed due to the death of the appellant. The issues related to service connection for various conditions and disability ratings.
- Granted
The Board has granted service connection for a lumbar spine disability, left lower extremity radiculopathy, and right lower extremity radiculopathy as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected lumbar spine disability.
- Granted
The Board has granted earlier effective dates for the grant of service connection for middle and index trigger finger/stenosing tenosynovitis of the right hand, left lower extremity radiculopathy, and right lower extremity radiculopathy. The earliest effective date is June 30, 2012, for the right hand condition and April 22, 2016, for bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy.
- Granted
The Board has granted service connection for lumbar spine degenerative arthritis and DDD, as well as right and left lower extremity radiculopathy secondary to the now service-connected lumbar spine condition. The decision is based on a finding of relative equipoise in the evidence regarding whether these conditions are related to service.
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