The Veteran's low back disability is granted a 20% rating beginning December 19, 2011 and denied any higher ratings. The neck disability is granted a 10% rating from August 18, 2017 onwards. The right shoulder disability remains at a 20% rating.,The Veteran's radiculopathy of the left upper and middle radicular group is granted a 30% rating beginning March 29, 2019.
The deciding factor: The VA determined that the Veteran's conditions met the criteria for specific disability ratings based on their severity and impact on function.
- Claimed conditions
- Low Back Musculotendinous Strain with Degenerative Changes, Status Post Lumbar Diskectomy and Interbody Fusion L4-L5, Status Post Lateral Lumbar Interbody Fusion of L2-3, L3-4, Cervical Spine Trauma with Ruptured Disk C5-C6 (Neck Disability), Radiculopathy of the Right Sciatic Nerve, Radiculopathy of the Left Sciatic Nerve, Radiculopathy of the Right Upper Radicular Group (Right Shoulder), Radiculopathy of the Left Upper and Middle Radicular Group (Left Shoulder)
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 40%
- Decision date
- January 19, 2022
- Citation
- 22002555
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 22002555.
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.
- Granted
The Veteran's service-connected degenerative joint disease of the thoracolumbar spine and radiculopathy of the right sciatic nerve have been granted increased ratings.
- Granted
The Veteran's service-connected low back disability and radiculopathy of the sciatic nerves have been granted initial evaluations, with a focus on the lumbar spine and bilateral sciatica. The evaluations are effective from October 16, 2013.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's PTSD, lumbar spondylosis with radiculopathy of the right sciatic nerve, and bilateral hearing loss are all being remanded for further evaluation.
- Granted
The Board granted an initial increased rating of 70 percent for PTSD, effective May 14, 2010. Effective November 8, 2011, the Veteran is entitled to a TDIU due to service-connected disabilities.
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