The Veteran's claim for restoration of a 20 percent rating for degenerative joint disease L5-S1, disk space with traumatic arthritis L3 vertebrae, from November 30, 2009 to May 9, 2016 is granted. The initial increased rating and the rating in excess of 40 percent for right lower extremity radiculopathy are both remanded.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's claim for restoration of a 20 percent rating was successful due to the reduction in evaluation resulting from compensation payment decrease, while the claims for an initial increased rating and a higher rating remain pending as additional evidence is needed.
- Claimed conditions
- degenerative joint disease L5-S1, disk space with traumatic arthritis L3 vertebrae, right lower extremity radiculopathy
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 20%
- Decision date
- May 19, 2020
- Citation
- 20034652
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 20034652.
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 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.
- Granted
The Board has granted service connection for lumbar spine degenerative arthritis and DDD, as well as right and left lower extremity radiculopathy secondary to the now service-connected lumbar spine condition. The decision is based on a finding of relative equipoise in the evidence regarding whether these conditions are related to service.
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