The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for IVDS of the lumbar spine was granted, and he received a 40% rating effective from October 9, 2018. The claims for left hip flexion limitation, sciatic and femoral nerve peripheral neuropathies, obturator, external cutaneous, and ilio-inguinal nerve peripheral neuropathies were also granted.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's IVDS of the lumbar spine was found to warrant a 40% rating based on the evidence showing forward flexion limited to 30 degrees or less from May 4, 2010. The other peripheral neuropathy claims were granted as secondary to the service-connected IVDS.
- Claimed conditions
- intervertebral disc syndrome of the lumbar spine, limitation of left hip flexion, peripheral neuropathy of the sciatic nerve of the lower extremities, peripheral neuropathy of the femoral nerve of the lower extremities, peripheral neuropathy of the obturator nerve of the lower extremities, peripheral neuropathy of the external cutaneous nerve of the lower extremities, peripheral neuropathy of the ilio-inguinal nerve of the lower extremities
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 40%
- Decision date
- May 20, 2021
- Citation
- 21031021
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 21031021.
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.
- Dismissed
The Board has dismissed the appeals for service connection and rating issues due to the Veteran's death.
- Granted
The Veteran's service-connected disabilities rendered him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation from December 28, 2010, to August 26, 2016. The Board granted the TDIU on an extraschedular basis for this period.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claims for higher ratings and related matters due to inadequate VA examinations.
- Partly granted
The Board granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities, but denied an increased rating for the unspecified trauma and stressor related disorder.
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