The Veteran's lumbar spine disability is currently rated at 20 percent, effective from the date of claim. The cervical spine disability has been rated at 10 percent prior to May 23, 2017 and 20 percent since then.,For the period prior to May 23, 2017, the Veteran's right shoulder disability was rated at 10 percent; for the period since May 23, 2017, it is rated at 20 percent. The left shoulder disability has been rated at 20 percent throughout.,The radiculopathy of the right lower extremity femoral nerve and sciatic nerve have both been rated at 10 percent; for the period since May 23, 2017, the left lower extremity radiculopathy is also rated at 10 percent. The radiculopathy of the right upper extremity has been rated at 20 percent.,The Veteran's cervical spine disability remains rated at 20 percent since May 23, 2017.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's lumbar and cervical spine disabilities are currently rated based on their severity as per the criteria for musculoskeletal disorders. The right shoulder and left shoulder disabilities have been rated based on their specific impairment of arm motion. The radiculopathy conditions have been rated based on their impact on nerve function.
- Claimed conditions
- Lumbar Spine Strain (Back Disability), Cervical Spine Strain with Torticollis (Cervical Spine Disability), Right Shoulder Disability, Left Shoulder Disability, Radiculopathy of the Right Lower Extremity Femoral Nerve, Radiculopathy of the Left Lower Extremity Femoral Nerve, Radiculopathy of the Right Lower Extremity Sciatic Nerve, Radiculopathy of the Left Lower Extremity Sciatic Nerve, Radiculopathy of the Right Upper Extremity (Ulnar Nerve), Radiculopathy of the Left Upper Extremity (Cubital Tunnel Syndrome)
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 20%
- Decision date
- January 31, 2018
- Citation
- 1806214
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 1806214.
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.
- Partly granted
The Board granted a 70% rating for PTSD from November 25, 2015 to August 12, 2024 and a 40% rating for the right shoulder disability. It also granted 10% ratings for both feet and 20% ratings for knee patellofemoral pain syndromes.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for multiple conditions, including PTSD, IBS, cardiac arrhythmia, CFS, chronic headaches, chronic sinusitis, dyspnea, and fibromyalgia. The claim for bilateral pes planus was remanded.
- Remanded (sent back)
The character of the appellant's uncharacterized discharge is not a bar to the receipt of Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) benefits; to this extent only, the claim is granted.
- Denied
The Board denied the claims for service connection for chronic fatigue syndrome, a low back disability, a left knee disability, and a left shoulder disability as there was no evidence to support that these conditions were incurred in or caused by the Veteran's military service.
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