The Veteran's claims for a rating in excess of 10 percent for radiculopathy, right and left lower extremities associated with degenerative joint disease have been denied. The evidence shows mild to moderate incomplete paralysis, but not more severe.
The deciding factor: The medical evidence does not show the Veteran experiencing moderate or worse incomplete paralysis, which would warrant a higher rating.
- Claimed conditions
- radiculopathy, right lower extremity associated with degenerative joint disease, radiculopathy, left lower extremity associated with degenerative joint disease
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 10%
- Decision date
- December 9, 2020
- Citation
- A20018216
What this means for you
A denial is a starting point, not the end of the road. You can see why this claim fell short — and, if you are still inside the one-year window, the appeal lanes that may remain open to you.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claims for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities and special monthly compensation based on aid and attendance, pending implementation of an earlier effective date for urge incontinence.
- Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for radiculopathy, as there was no evidence of a current diagnosis of radiculopathy.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the Veteran's claim for service connection for lumbosacral strain with degenerative disc disease, spinal stenosis, IVDS, radiculopathy, and bulging disc to obtain a more thorough medical opinion.
- Denied
The Board denied the veteran's request to restore higher ratings for degenerative disc disease and radiculopathy, finding that the reductions were proper based on medical evidence.
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