The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, as well as his lumbar and cervical spine disabilities, have been granted service connection. The initial ratings for the lumbar spine disability were reduced from 20% to 10%, effective November 6, 2013, while a separate 20% rating was assigned for the right lower extremity radiculopathy related to his cervical spine disability. The Veteran's cervical spine disability received an initial 20% rating as of March 10, 2011.
The deciding factor: The evidence supported service connection for the acquired psychiatric disorder and the lumbar and cervical spine disabilities based on their direct relationship to military service.
- Claimed conditions
- Acquired psychiatric disorder, Lumbar spine disability, Cervical spine disability
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 20%
- Decision date
- August 2, 2019
- Citation
- 19160187
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 19160187.
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 Board granted service connection for chronic headaches, CFS, dermatosis, bilateral RLS, a lumbar spine disability, and sleep apnea but denied a compensable evaluation for allergic rhinitis.
- Granted
The Board granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, finding a causal relationship between the condition and an in-service incident of military sexual trauma (MST).
- Denied
The veteran's bad conduct discharge precludes eligibility for VA benefits, including compensation and healthcare.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the issue of entitlement to service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder due to a pre-decisional duty to assist error.
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