The Veteran's lumbar spine disability is rated at 20 percent, and his radiculopathy of the right lower extremity is rated at 10 percent. Both conditions are currently assigned the highest possible rating under their respective diagnostic codes.
The deciding factor: The Veteran’s lumbar spine disability does not meet or approximate the criteria for a higher rating as forward flexion was found to be at least 60 degrees, and there was no evidence of ankylosis. The radiculopathy of the right lower extremity is rated based on mild incomplete paralysis.
- Claimed conditions
- Degenerative Joint Disease of the Lumbosacral Spine, Radiculopathy of the Right Lower Extremity
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 20%
- Decision date
- May 1, 2018
- Citation
- 1827628
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 1827628.
What this means for you
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What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Denied
The Board found that the evidence did not show an actual improvement in the Veteran's conditions, and thus denied the reduction requests for his service-connected disabilities.
- Granted
The Veteran's low back disability is granted service connection.,Service connection for radiculopathy of the left and right lower extremities are also granted.
- Denied
The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for degenerative disc disease with spinal stenosis, radiculopathy of the left lower extremity, and radiculopathy of the right lower extremity.
- Partly granted
The Board denied increased ratings for the Veteran's back disability, radiculopathy of both lower extremities, limitation of pronation and flexion of the right elbow, and scarring, but granted a 40 percent rating from March 26, 2024 to September 17, 2024.
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