For the period from August 13, 2015 to January 17, 2017, the Veteran's DDD of the lumbar spine did not warrant an increased rating higher than 20 percent.,From January 18, 2017 onwards, the Veteran's radiculopathy warranted a 40% rating for his right lower extremity and a 20% rating for his left lower extremity.
The deciding factor: The evidence did not support an increased rating higher than 20 percent for DDD of the lumbar spine from August 13, 2015 to January 17, 2017.,For the period from January 18, 2017 onwards, the Veteran's radiculopathy was found to be moderately severe in one lower extremity and moderate in the other.
- Claimed conditions
- Degenerative Disc Disease (DDD) of the lumbar spine, Lumbar radiculopathy
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 40%
- Decision date
- January 19, 2018
- Citation
- 1803729
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 1803729.
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 Board has granted service connection for DDD and central canal stenosis of the lumbar spine, finding that the appellant's current disability is at least as likely caused by his in-service injury.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has determined that there is a need for additional medical examination and opinion to address the Veteran's claim of service connection for a back disability, including DDD of the lumbar spine. The current VA opinions are deemed inadequate due to their failure to consider the Veteran's lay reports of in-service injury and continuous symptomatology since service.
- Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's request to extend his delimiting date for Chapter 33 education benefits, finding that he did not provide sufficient evidence of a physical or mental disability preventing him from initiating a program of education within one year of his May 2020 extension request.
- Denied
The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine and bilateral hearing loss, do not render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.
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