The Veteran's thoracolumbar spine disability is rated at 40 percent, which is the maximum schedular rating for limitation of motion of the spine.,The radiculopathy of the left lower extremity is currently rated at 20 percent.,The psychiatric disability has been granted a 70 percent rating.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's thoracolumbar spine disability does not meet the criteria for a higher rating as it does not result in ankylosis or incapacitating episodes, and the maximum schedular rating is already assigned.,The radiculopathy of the left lower extremity more nearly approximates moderate impairment based on clinical testing showing at least periodic decrease in strength to 4/5 and decreased sensation. The Veteran's reported functional impairment due to the radiculopathy supports a 20 percent rating.,The psychiatric disability has occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas, including work, school, family relations, judgment, thinking, or mood.
- Claimed conditions
- Thoracolumbar spine disability, Radiculopathy of the left lower extremity, Psychiatric disability
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 40%
- Decision date
- December 20, 2019
- Citation
- 19195660
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 2,077 · Granted: 25% (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 19195660.
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.
- Denied
The Board denied extraschedular ratings for the Veteran's service-connected lumbar spine and lower extremity radiculopathy disabilities, as well as a total disability rating based on individual unemployability prior to February 3, 2011.
- Denied
The Veteran's claim for an increased rating of his psychiatric disability was the initial decision, and thus attorney fees are not eligible based on past due benefits awarded in April 2025.
- Denied
The Veteran's psychiatric disability is currently rated at 30 percent, which is the lowest possible rating under the General Rating Formula for Mental Disorders. The Board found that his symptoms did not warrant a higher rating as they were intermittent and did not significantly impair his occupational or social functioning.
- Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's motion to revise the May 2013 rating decision that denied a TDIU, finding no clear and unmistakable error.
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