The Veteran's lumbar strain is rated at 40 percent and no higher, with separate ratings of 10 percent for radiculopathy of the right lower extremity from June 23, 2010, and for radiculopathy of the left lower extremity from that date. The Veteran's pseudofolliculitis barbae is rated at a non-compensable level.
The deciding factor: The Veteran’s lumbar strain was found to warrant a rating of 40 percent based on limitation of motion during flare-ups, which corresponds with the criteria for such a rating under the VA Schedule for Rating Disabilities. The radiculopathy of both lower extremities is rated at 10 percent each from June 23, 2010, as mild in severity. Pseudofolliculitis barbae was found to warrant no higher than a non-compensable rating.
- Claimed conditions
- lumbar strain, radiculopathy of the right lower extremity, radiculopathy of the left lower extremity, pseudofolliculitis barbae
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 40%
- Decision date
- September 17, 2020
- Citation
- 20061342
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 20061342.
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 Veteran's service-connected disabilities require regular aid and attendance, resulting in the grant of special monthly compensation based on the need for regular aid and attendance. The issue of entitlement to special monthly compensation at the housebound rate is moot.
- Denied
The Veteran's request for an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for pseudofolliculitis barbae is denied as there is no legal authority to assign an earlier effective date, and the RO has already assigned the earliest possible effective date for the award of service connection.
- Dismissed
The Veteran's appeals for service connection for right hand arthritis and left hand arthritis have been dismissed.,The Veteran's appeals for a higher rating for lumbar strain, radiculopathy of the left sciatic nerve, and radiculopathy of the right sciatic nerve have been remanded.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has granted service connection for lumbar strain and lumbar intervertebral disc syndrome with left sciatica. The right lower extremity sciatica claim is remanded due to a duty-to-assist error.
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