The Veteran was granted an effective date of March 1, 1995 for the award of service connection for cervical radiculopathy of the bilateral upper extremities.,An earlier effective date for a higher rating for herniated intervertebral disc L5-S1 is denied.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's claim for an increased rating was received after his initial grant of service connection, and no specific time period of worsening was established within the one-year prior to the filing of the claim.
- Claimed conditions
- Herniated intervertebral disc L5-S1, Cervical radiculopathy of the bilateral upper extremities
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 40%
- Decision date
- March 12, 2019
- Citation
- 19117851
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 1,836 · Granted: 31% (granted or partly granted, in the vetted decisions on this site)
Judge attribution: 2025 complete; earlier years partial.
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 19117851.
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 PTSD, intervertebral disc syndrome, cervical radiculopathy of the bilateral upper extremities, and neuropathy/radiculopathy/neurogenic claudication of the bilateral lower extremities, have rendered him in need of regular aid and assistance. The Board has granted special monthly compensation (SMC) based on the regular need for aid and attendance.
- Granted
The Veteran's cervical stenosis and radiculopathy of the bilateral upper extremities are found to be related to his military service.,His lumbar degenerative arthritis is rated at 40 percent, effective March 12, 2012.
- Granted
The Veteran's claim for service connection for degenerative disc disease of the cervical spine and cervical radiculopathy of the bilateral upper extremities was granted with an effective date of August 27, 1995.
- Denied
The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected lumbar myositis, psychoneurosis and conversion hysteria, residuals of shrapnel wounds of the left thigh and pelvis with retained foreign bodies and scars, and residuals of shell fragment wounds of the right thigh and left leg. The veteran was also denied entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities.
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