The Veteran's lumbar strain with impingement of the L3-L4 dermatomes and DDD, along with left and right lower extremity radiculopathy, are granted at a 20 percent rating from August 15, 2005, to September 18, 2016, for lumbar strain with impingement of the L3-L4 dermatomes and DDD. The Veteran's left lower extremity radiculopathy is granted at a 20 percent rating since October 23, 2012, and right lower extremity radiculopathy is granted at a 20 percent rating since August 15, 2005. A TDIU is granted from August 15, 2005, to February 27, 2013.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's symptoms and disability picture meet the criteria for a 20 percent rating under Diagnostic Codes 5242 (lumbosacral strain) and 8520 (sciatic nerve radiculopathy).
- Claimed conditions
- lumbar strain, DDD (Degenerative Disc Disease), left lower extremity radiculopathy, right lower extremity radiculopathy
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 20%
- Decision date
- May 6, 2020
- Citation
- 20031813
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 20031813.
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.
- Dismissed
The Veteran's appeals were dismissed due to the death of the appellant. The issues related to service connection for various conditions and disability ratings.
- Granted
The Board has granted service connection for a lumbar spine disability, left lower extremity radiculopathy, and right lower extremity radiculopathy as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected lumbar spine disability.
- Granted
The Board has granted service connection for left lower extremity radiculopathy and denied the claims for right knee disability, erectile dysfunction, GERD, sleep apnea, and hypertension. The decision is remanded for further action on these issues.
- Granted
The Board has granted earlier effective dates for the grant of service connection for middle and index trigger finger/stenosing tenosynovitis of the right hand, left lower extremity radiculopathy, and right lower extremity radiculopathy. The earliest effective date is June 30, 2012, for the right hand condition and April 22, 2016, for bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy.
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