The Veteran's right elbow strain, lumbar spine DJD, and right lower extremity radiculopathy have been granted service connection. A rating of 20 percent has been assigned for the lumbar spine DJD from September 10, 2007, to January 8, 2019.
The deciding factor: The VA examiner provided a diagnosis of right elbow strain that began in service and continued since then. The Veteran's lumbar spine disorder caused DJD, DDD, IVDS, spondylosis, and radiculopathy involving the sciatic nerve, resulting in pain, flare-ups, functional impairment, difficulty with activities such as sitting, standing, lifting, squatting, and climbing stairs.
- Claimed conditions
- Right elbow strain, Lumbar spine degenerative joint disease (DJD), Right lower extremity radiculopathy
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 20%
- Decision date
- April 15, 2019
- Citation
- 19129023
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.
- Partly granted
The Veteran was granted an effective date of July 31, 2012, for TDIU and October 22, 2012, for service connection of left and right lower extremity radiculopathy.
- Denied
The appeal for higher ratings and effective dates for various conditions was denied, with the exception of left and right lower extremity radiculopathy which were granted an earlier effective date.
- Denied
The Board denied increased ratings for various disabilities and granted earlier effective dates for service connection of scars, but denied an earlier effective date for individual unemployability.
- Partly granted
The Veteran's cervical spine disability is granted a 30 percent rating, while the lumbar and lower extremity radiculopathy claims are denied. An earlier effective date for right lower extremity radiculopathy was granted, and TDIU based on single service-connected disability is remanded.
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