The Veteran's back condition and radiculopathy, RLE are rated at 40 percent. A separate 20 percent rating is granted for radiculopathy, LLE from September 21, 2017.
The deciding factor: The evidence shows the Veteran’s back condition does not meet or approximate criteria for a higher disability rating and his radiculopathy, RLE and LLE are rated at 20 percent based on moderate incomplete paralysis.
- Claimed conditions
- lumbosacral strain with degenerative disk disease
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 40%
- Decision date
- December 30, 2019
- Citation
- 19196673
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 940 · Granted: 21% (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 19196673.
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 service connection for lumbosacral strain with degenerative disk disease and left ankle condition, finding that the Veteran's conditions did not manifest in active duty or within one year of separation from active duty and are not otherwise attributable to active duty service.,The decision also noted that there is no evidence linking the current disabilities to service.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has determined that additional development is needed for the Veteran's claims of service connection for low back pain and ankle weakness, as there are outstanding records from Social Security Administration (SSA) and VA opinions are required to address the etiology of these conditions.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for bilateral hip condition, radiculopathy of the left lower extremity, lumbosacral strain with degenerative disk disease, and TDIU due to service-connected disabilities. The issues include determining whether these conditions are related to his active military service or service-connected conditions, as well as assessing their severity.
- Denied
The Board has denied the veteran's claims for extension of temporary total disability compensation, service connection for residuals of vasectomy, and a higher rating for bilateral plantar fasciitis. The claim for service connection for stomach condition secondary to medications taken for lumbosacral strain with degenerative disk disease is pending.
Free starter guide for your own claim
Reading this because you were denied or under-rated? Get the plain-English next steps — your appeal options, the deadline that protects you, and how appeals like yours turn out. One email, no spam.
We will only use this to send the guide. No spam, unsubscribe any time. We never sell your information.
We are not the VA. Veterans’ Rights is an independent resource built for veterans. We are not the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, not part of the government, and not endorsed by any government agency.
This is general information, not legal advice. For advice about your own situation, talk to a VA-accredited representative — many help for free.