The Veteran's lumbar retrolisthesis is rated at 20 percent, effective December 4, 2019. Separate 10 percent ratings are granted for left and right leg radiculopathies as of the same date.
The deciding factor: The VA examinations showed that the Veteran’s lumbar spine disability did not meet or approximate the criteria for a higher rating under any applicable diagnostic codes. However, separate 10 percent ratings were assigned for her bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy due to the presence of objective neurologic abnormalities as diagnosed by the examiner.
- Claimed conditions
- lumbar retrolisthesis, left leg radiculopathy, right leg radiculopathy
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 20%
- Decision date
- February 19, 2020
- Citation
- 20013111
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 20013111.
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.
- Granted
The Board has granted service connection for a lumbosacral strain, degenerative arthritis, lumbar retrolisthesis, a vertebral fracture, and DDD (back disability), as well as right and left lower extremity radiculopathy secondary to the back disability. The decision is based on evidence showing an in-service fall causing a back injury that led to current diagnoses.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims due to a lack of adequate medical examination and treatment records, particularly regarding nerve conditions. The Veteran is seeking service connection for left arm, upper back, and right leg nerve damage and pain, as well as an increased evaluation for major depressive disorder.
- Granted
The Board has granted the restoration of entitlement to total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) and basic eligibility for Dependents' Educational Assistance (DEA), effective May 1, 2020. The decision was made due to procedural errors in the previous termination decisions.
- Denied
The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for lower back condition, left leg radiculopathy, and right leg radiculopathy as secondary to a lower back condition. The evidence did not support a finding that these conditions were incurred in or caused by military service.
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