The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for low back disorder was granted with a 20% evaluation effective February 4, 2016. The issue of entitlement to an earlier effective date prior to July 9, 2010 is dismissed.,The Veteran's radiculopathy of the bilateral lower extremities associated with his service-connected low back disorder was granted with a 20% evaluation effective February 4, 2016. The issue of entitlement to an earlier effective date prior to July 9, 2010 is dismissed.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's radiculopathy of the bilateral lower extremities was found to be secondary to his service-connected low back disorder and its symptoms could not be distinguished from those of the low back disability. The effective date for the grant of service connection for radiculopathy is the same as the claim date for increased rating of the low back disorder, which is February 4, 2016.
- Claimed conditions
- Low back disorder, Radiculopathy of bilateral lower extremities
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 20%
- Decision date
- March 23, 2022
- Citation
- 22016891
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 22016891.
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 claim for a low back disorder was reopened, and his claims for increased ratings of bilateral knee instability were granted. His hearing loss claim was denied.
- Granted
The Board has granted service connection for a low back disorder. The claims for bilateral hearing loss, hypertension, bilateral knee disorder, and an acquired psychiatric disorder are remanded.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for a low back disorder, finding that the evidence did not show an in-service onset or relationship to service.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for low back disorder and bilateral knee disorders due to duty to assist errors prior to the rating decision on appeal. The Veteran is not prejudiced as a remand is necessary to correct these errors.
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