The Board has granted service connection for herniated disc and right radiculopathy, as well as residuals of right shoulder surgery. The Veteran's GERD is rated at 30 percent.,The issues of entitlement to increased ratings for bilateral plantar fasciitis, left knee strain with patellar osteophyte formation, and a left ankle disability are remanded.
The deciding factor: The evidence supports the finding that the Veteran's herniated disc and right radiculopathy is related to his active service. The private physician provided an opinion linking the current back injury and radiculopathy to the 2004 injury during ACDUTRA.
- Claimed conditions
- Low Back Pain with Radiculopathy, Right Shoulder Surgery Residuals, Left Ankle Injury
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 30%
- Decision date
- June 21, 2018
- Citation
- 18113292
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 18113292.
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 appeal is being remanded due to incomplete medical records and the need for further development of his shoulder disabilities, including a potential right shoulder surgery in July 2014. The TDIU claim also requires additional information from the Veteran.
- Granted
The Veteran's right shoulder disability is restored to a 40 percent rating effective February 1, 2016. The Board has also added issues of entitlement to increased ratings for lumbar spine disability and bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy and the propriety of the reduction of the evaluation for left shoulder strain from 30 percent to 20 percent.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's right shoulder disability is currently rated at 20 percent, but the Board has remanded for further examination to determine if a higher rating is warranted.
- Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) due to his service-connected disabilities not precluding him from securing and following substantially gainful employment.
Free starter guide for your own claim
Reading this because you were denied or under-rated? Get the plain-English next steps — your appeal options, the deadline that protects you, and how appeals like yours turn out. One email, no spam.
We will only use this to send the guide. No spam, unsubscribe any time. We never sell your information.
We are not the VA. Veterans’ Rights is an independent resource built for veterans. We are not the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, not part of the government, and not endorsed by any government agency.
This is general information, not legal advice. For advice about your own situation, talk to a VA-accredited representative — many help for free.