The Veteran's initial disability ratings for cervical radiculopathy of the left upper extremity and lumbar radiculopathy of the left lower extremity were denied. The Veteran's claim for service connection for colon cancer was also denied.
The deciding factor: The evidence did not meet the criteria for higher disability ratings, including severe incomplete paralysis or complete paralysis as required by Diagnostic Code 8512 for cervical radiculopathy and 8520 for lumbar radiculopathy.
- Claimed conditions
- Cervical radiculopathy, Lumbar radiculopathy
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 30%
- Decision date
- May 19, 2021
- Citation
- 21030778
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 21030778.
What this means for you
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What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Granted
The Board has granted service connection for DDD and central canal stenosis of the lumbar spine, finding that the appellant's current disability is at least as likely caused by his in-service injury.
- Granted
The Board has granted separate ratings of 30 percent for left upper extremity cervical radiculopathy and 40 percent for right upper extremity cervical radiculopathy, effective March 16, 2017.
- Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) due to her service-connected disabilities, finding that she was not unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation consistent with her education and work history.
- Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's request to extend his delimiting date for Chapter 33 education benefits, finding that he did not provide sufficient evidence of a physical or mental disability preventing him from initiating a program of education within one year of his May 2020 extension request.
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