The Board has granted an earlier effective date of September 9, 1978 for the grant of service connection for thoracolumbar spine disability. The Veteran's original claim was received in January 1979 within one year of his separation from active duty. For radiculopathy of the left lower extremity involving the sciatic nerve and right lower extremity, the Board has denied an effective date prior to April 30, 2013 as there is no evidence of a service connection claim before that date.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's original claim for thoracolumbar spine disability was received in January 1979 within one year of his separation from active duty. The RO granted the petition to reopen the claim based on new and material evidence, including STRs submitted by the Veteran in April 2013.
- Claimed conditions
- Degenerative disc disease with intervertebral disc syndrome status post L1 compression fracture of the thoracolumbar spine, Radiculopathy of the left lower extremity involving the sciatic nerve, Radiculopathy of the right lower extremity involving the sciatic nerve
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- September 20, 2018
- Citation
- 18136944
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 18136944.
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 Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including his spine and radiculopathy conditions, have prevented him from securing or maintaining substantially gainful employment. The Board has granted TDIU.
- Partly granted
The Board denied an initial rating higher than 70 percent for PTSD and persistent mood disorder, granted a 40 percent initial rating for low back disability, and denied initial ratings higher than 10 percent for plantar fasciitis and radiculopathy of the left and right lower extremities involving the sciatic nerve.
- Partly granted
The Board granted a rating of 30 percent for radiculopathy of the left lower extremity involving the femoral nerve, but denied increased ratings for radiculopathy of the left and right lower extremities involving the sciatic nerve.
- Partly granted
The Board granted earlier effective dates for the grants of service connection for radiculopathy of the right and left lower extremities, as well as an initial 40 percent rating for recurrent lumbar strain with degenerative arthritis of the spine from July 9, 2004. The claim for service connection for sexual dysfunction was remanded.
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