The Veteran's lumbar spine disability was denied for evaluations in excess of the assigned ratings from March 1, 2013 to February 19, 2020 and from February 19, 2020.,The Veteran's radiculopathy of the right lower extremity was granted a 20 percent evaluation from December 26, 2018 to February 19, 2020 and denied for evaluations in excess of the assigned rating from February 19, 2020.,The Veteran's radiculopathy of the left lower extremity was granted a 20 percent evaluation from December 26, 2018 to February 19, 2020 and denied for evaluations in excess of the assigned rating from February 19, 2020.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's lumbar spine disability did not meet the criteria for a higher evaluation as it did not manifest with favorable ankylosis or incapacitating episodes resulting in doctor-prescribed bed rest and treatment by a physical with a duration of at least 4 weeks during any 12-month period.,The Veteran's radiculopathy of the right lower extremity met the criteria for a 20 percent evaluation as it manifested with moderate, incomplete paralysis from December 26, 2018 to February 19, 2020. However, from February 19, 2020, it did not meet the criteria for an evaluation in excess of 20 percent due to symptoms consistent with moderately-severe incomplete paralysis.,The Veteran's radiculopathy of the left lower extremity met the criteria for a 20 percent evaluation as it manifested with moderate, incomplete paralysis from December 26, 2018 to February 19, 2020. However, from February 19, 2020, it did not meet the criteria for an evaluation in excess of 20 percent due to symptoms consistent with moderately-severe incomplete paralysis.
- Claimed conditions
- lumbar spine disability, radiculopathy of the right lower extremity, radiculopathy of the left lower extremity
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- February 9, 2021
- Citation
- 21007274
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 21007274.
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Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- 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.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has decided to remand the claims for miscarriage, cervical spine disability, lumbar spine disability, and right elbow disability due to insufficient examination opinions and incomplete service history verification.
- Dismissed
The Board has dismissed the Veteran's claims for service connection for left knee disability, right knee disability, lumbar spine disability, and obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) as these issues have been addressed in a separate docket.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus. Service connection is being remanded for the lumbar spine disability and right knee and calf disabilities.
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