The Veteran's lumbar spine condition is rated at 40 percent, and his left and right lower extremity radiculopathy are each rated at 20 percent. The Veteran also received a TDIU rating.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's lumbar spine DJD with IVDS was found to have forward flexion limited to 30 degrees or less, meeting the criteria for a 40 percent disability rating under the General Formula of VA regulations. His left and right lower extremity radiculopathy were each rated at 20 percent based on moderate incomplete paralysis.
- Claimed conditions
- lumbar spine degenerative joint disease (DJD) with intervertebral disc syndrome (IVDS), type II diabetes mellitus (DM)
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 40%
- Decision date
- January 27, 2022
- Citation
- 22004545
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 22004545.
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 heart conditions, including CAD, MI, atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease, congestive heart failure, supraventricular arrhythmia, and CABG are granted as presumed due to herbicide exposure. DM is also granted. Peripheral neuropathy of the LLE, RLE, LUE, and RUE is granted secondary to DM.
- Granted
The Veteran's hypertension, type II diabetes mellitus (DM), and migraine headaches are all granted as service-connected. The hypertension is considered direct service connection due to the preexisting condition not being aggravated by service. Type II diabetes mellitus (DM) is found to have started during service based on post-service medical records showing progression from impaired fasting glucose to a confirmed diagnosis of DM II. Migraine headaches are also granted as they were first diagnosed during active military service and linked to in-service noise exposure.
- Granted
The Veteran's claims for service connection for tinnitus, psychiatric disability, GERD, DM, CAD, and ED have been granted with effective dates ranging from July 29, 2022 to September 8, 2021. The claim for service connection for OSA was denied.
- Partly granted
The Board granted service connection for a right shoulder condition and a left knee condition, but denied service connection for a right knee condition. The Board also granted an initial 50 percent rating for migraines.
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