The Veteran's initial claim for a higher rating for his service-connected degenerative disc disease and herniated nucleus pulposus was granted, with a separate 20% rating assigned for each lower extremity radiculopathy. The Veteran's original 40% evaluation for the lumbar spine condition from March 10, 2016, remains unchanged.
The deciding factor: The medical evidence supported the assignment of initial ratings of 20% for both lower extremity radiculopathies prior to March 10, 2016, based on moderate incomplete paralysis as per Diagnostic Code 8520.
- Claimed conditions
- Degenerative disc disease and herniated nucleus pulposus, Left lower radiculopathy (sciatic nerve), Right lower radiculopathy (sciatic nerve)
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 20%
- Decision date
- April 16, 2019
- Citation
- 19129543
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
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Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
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