The Veteran's lumbar spine disability is rated at 40 percent effective September 29, 2011. The right and left lower extremity radiculopathy are each rated at 10 percent prior to April 20, 2015, with a separate 20 percent evaluation for the right lower extremity radiculopathy beginning July 21, 2015. The Veteran's eczema is rated at 30 percent effective April 9, 2013.
The deciding factor: The VA examiner found that the Veteran had mild to moderate DDD of the lumbar spine with associated right and left lower extremity radiculopathy. These findings warranted a 40 percent evaluation for the lumbar spine disability as it caused impairment in flexion, which was less than 60 degrees but greater than 30 degrees.
- Claimed conditions
- Degenerative Changes with Degenerative Disc Disease (DDD) of the Lumbar Spine, Right Lower Extremity Radiculopathy, Left Lower Extremity Radiculopathy
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 40%
- Decision date
- February 1, 2018
- Citation
- 1806607
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 1806607.
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 Veteran's claims for higher ratings for right and left lower extremity radiculopathy are being remanded due to the need for a new VA examination to assess the current severity of his condition, without considering the ameliorative effects of any medication he uses.
- Granted
The Veteran's bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy has been granted a 30 percent disability rating since November 29, 2021.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's erectile dysfunction is likely due to his service-connected lumbar spine and radiculopathy conditions, with tramadol use possibly causing the condition by October 25, 2012. The effective date for ED will be remanded.,Due to the inextricably intertwined nature of the issues, including the need to determine if tramadol caused ED prior to August 30, 2013, the SMC issue is also remanded.
- Granted
The Board has determined that the evidence is at least in equipoise, and therefore grants service connection for Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) as secondary to Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and other service-connected conditions such as lumbar disc disease, right lower extremity radiculopathy, obstructive lung disease, and gastroesophageal reflux.
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