The Veteran's back condition and radiculopathy of the lower extremities have been granted a rating of 20 percent effective March 31, 2010. The decision is based on the severity of his symptoms as described in medical records.
The deciding factor: The evidence shows that the Veteran’s radiculopathy was manifested by no more than moderate incomplete paralysis, which aligns with a 20% rating under Diagnostic Code 8520.
- Claimed conditions
- lumbar spine degenerative disc disease (back condition), rheumatoid arthritis (not explicitly mentioned but implied by radiculopathy symptoms)
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 20%
- Decision date
- October 21, 2020
- Citation
- 20068195
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 1,886 · Granted: 24% (granted or partly granted, in the vetted decisions on this site)
Judge attribution: 2025 complete; earlier years partial.
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 20068195.
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
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- Granted
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