The Veteran's lumbar strain disability is granted at a 20 percent evaluation from September 23, 2010 to February 27, 2020 and denied for evaluations in excess of that. The right lower extremity radiculopathy and left lower extremity radiculopathy are both denied initial evaluations in excess of 10 percent. The Veteran's limitation of flexion of the left knee is restored from a noncompensable to a 10 percent evaluation, but his limitation of extension of the left leg remains denied. The instability of the left knee is granted at a 20 percent evaluation beginning April 3, 2018.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's lumbar strain disability was found to have manifested with pain and limited motion, warranting a 20 percent rating from September 23, 2010 to February 27, 2020. The right lower extremity radiculopathy and left lower extremity radiculopathy were both denied as they did not meet the criteria for an initial evaluation in excess of 10 percent. The limitation of flexion of the left knee was restored from a noncompensable to a 10 percent rating, but the limitation of extension remained denied.
- Claimed conditions
- lumbar strain, radiculopathy of the right lower extremity, radiculopathy of the left lower extremity
- How they argued it
- Not specified
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- April 27, 2021
- Citation
- 21025262
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 21025262.
What this means for you
A remand is not a loss. The Board sent the case back for more development — often a new exam or missing records — before making a final decision. Many remands later end in a grant, and the decision spells out exactly what the Board wanted to see.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- 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.
- Granted
The Board has determined that the Veteran's back disability, diagnosed as lumbar strain, spinal stenosis and degenerative disc disease (DDD) of the lumbar spine, is causally related to service. As such, service connection for this condition is granted.
- Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) due to service-connected disabilities, finding that his physical limitations could be accommodated by sedentary employment.
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