The Veteran's arthritis of the thoracic spine is rated at 40 percent prior to March 11, 2019, and at 20 percent thereafter. The Board has also granted separate 20 percent ratings for RLE and LLE radiculopathy since August 3, 2018. Service connection for left leg restless leg syndrome is remanded as it is claimed as secondary to service-connected arthritis of the thoracic spine.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's back disability resulted in moderate incomplete paralysis of the sciatic nerve from August 3, 2018, but no earlier, which warranted separate ratings. Service connection for left leg restless leg syndrome was remanded due to its secondary nature to service-connected arthritis of the thoracic spine.
- Claimed conditions
- Arthritis of the thoracic spine, Left leg restless leg syndrome
- How they argued it
- Secondary to another service-connected condition
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 20%
- Decision date
- December 5, 2019
- Citation
- 19191106
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 19191106.
What this means for you
A partial grant means some issues were granted while others were denied or remanded — common in multi-issue claims. Look at which issues went which way, and how each was argued.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Partly granted
The Board denied increased ratings for PTSD, cervical radiculopathy, allergic rhinitis, restless leg syndrome, and migraines but granted a 20 percent rating for undiagnosed illness with symptoms of joint ache and fatigue. Service connection was also denied for chronic sinusitis.
- Partly granted
The Board denied increased ratings for PTSD, headaches, left knee MCL strain with limitation of flexion, and left knee MCL strain with bracing post-surgery, but granted service connection for CFS, left leg RLS, and a 10 percent rating for scar, left lower extremity knee. The effective date for the 70 percent rating for PTSD and the 30 percent ratings for headaches, OSA, and scar, left lower extremity knee were also granted from April 26, 2013.
- Granted
The veteran's service-connected disabilities, which include a low back disability rated 40 percent, depressive disorder rated 30 percent, a left knee disability rated 20 percent, residuals of left medial meniscectomy and high tibial osteotomy rated 20 percent, and arthritis of the thoracic spine rated 10 percent, are reasonably shown to be of such nature and severity as to preclude him from participating in any regular substantially gainful employment.
- Partly granted
The Board granted service connection for right lower extremity sciatica associated with the Veteran's service-connected lumbosacral spine strain, but remanded claims for service connection for gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) and sleep apnea.
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