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
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 1,676 · Granted: 24% (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 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.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has denied service connection for thyroidectomy due to lack of evidence linking the condition to active service. The Board has also remanded cases regarding left and right leg restless leg syndrome, as a VA medical opinion is needed.
- 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.
- Partly granted
The Board denied higher ratings for PTSD and alcohol use disorder, left knee patellofemoral pain syndrome, and right knee patellofemoral pain syndrome. However, service connection was granted for allergic rhinitis under the PACT Act.
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