An effective date of April 30, 2013 is granted for the award of service connection for intervertebral disc syndrome (IVDS) of the thoracolumbar spine.,An earlier effective date of April 30, 2013 is granted for the award of service connection for radiculopathy of the right lower extremity.,An earlier effective date of April 30, 2013 is granted for the award of service connection for radiculopathy of the left lower extremity.,An earlier effective date prior to April 30, 2013 is denied for service connection for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
The deciding factor: The Veteran's IVDS existed at least one year prior to his claim for service connection on April 30, 2014.,The grant of service connection for right lower extremity radiculopathy is based on the grant of service connection for IVDS, which was diagnosed at least one year prior to the date of the Veteran's claim for service connection.,The grant of service connection for left lower extremity radiculopathy is based on the grant of service connection for IVDS, which was diagnosed at least one year prior to the date of the Veteran's claim for service connection.,The Veteran submitted a claim for PTSD on April 30, 2014, and he received a retroactive effective date of April 30, 2013 under the Honoring America's Veterans Act.
- Claimed conditions
- intervertebral disc syndrome (IVDS) of the thoracolumbar spine, raticulopathy of the right lower extremity, raticulopathy of the left lower extremity
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 20%
- Decision date
- December 20, 2021
- Citation
- 21075427
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 21075427.
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.
- Denied
The Veteran's tinnitus is rated at the maximum schedular disability rating of 10 percent.,The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability is currently rated as noncompensable (zero percent).,The Veteran's lumbar spine disability is currently rated at 20 percent, and the evidence does not support a higher rating due to lack of ankylosis or other criteria for increased ratings under the General Rating Formula for Diseases and Injuries of the Spine.,The Veteran's right lower extremity radiculopathy is not manifested by moderate incomplete paralysis.
- Dismissed
The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings and service connection have been dismissed as the Veteran requested to withdraw all of his appeals prior to a decision being made.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy due to a lack of discussion on the impact of medication used to treat the conditions, and for a supplemental opinion.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for higher ratings for IBS, lumbar spine disability, and lower extremity radiculopathy due to a procedural error in providing notice of his right to a hearing.
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