The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU were denied. The Veteran was granted a higher rating for bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy effective June 17, 2021.,Prior to May 18, 2021, the Veteran did not meet the criteria for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities (TDIU).,Beginning May 18, 2021, the Veteran was granted TDIU status.
The deciding factor: The evidence does not support higher ratings or TDIU prior to June 17, 2021 for bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy and lumbar strain.,The Veteran's employment history did not meet the criteria for a TDIU on an extraschedular basis prior to May 18, 2021.,Beginning May 18, 2021, there was sufficient evidence to support a finding that the Veteran is unable to secure and follow any form of substantially gainful employment due to his service-connected disabilities.
- Claimed conditions
- left lower extremity radiculopathy, right lower extremity radiculopathy, lumbar strain, status post discectomy
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- December 13, 2021
- Citation
- 21073989
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 21073989.
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Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Dismissed
The Veteran's appeals were dismissed due to the death of the appellant. The issues related to service connection for various conditions and disability ratings.
- 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.
- Granted
The Board has granted service connection for left lower extremity radiculopathy and denied the claims for right knee disability, erectile dysfunction, GERD, sleep apnea, and hypertension. The decision is remanded for further action on these issues.
- Granted
The Board has granted earlier effective dates for the grant of service connection for middle and index trigger finger/stenosing tenosynovitis of the right hand, left lower extremity radiculopathy, and right lower extremity radiculopathy. The earliest effective date is June 30, 2012, for the right hand condition and April 22, 2016, for bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy.
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