The Veteran's degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine is rated at 40 percent, effective November 1, 2022.,Separate ratings for left and right lower extremity radiculopathy are granted, with specific effective dates.,A higher rating for right lower extremity radiculopathy after January 26, 2018 is denied.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine more closely approximates limitation to no more than 30 degrees forward flexion, warranting a 40 percent rating throughout the period on appeal.,Left and right lower extremity radiculopathy are rated separately based on specific effective dates provided in the decision.,Right lower extremity radiculopathy does not meet criteria for higher ratings due to lack of evidence supporting more severe impairment.
- Claimed conditions
- Degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine, Left lower extremity radiculopathy, Right lower extremity radiculopathy
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 40%
- Decision date
- November 1, 2022
- Citation
- 22061023
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 22061023.
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 Board has granted effective dates of July 10, 2024 for service connection for PTSD, lumbar strain, and left lower extremity radiculopathy.
- Denied
The Veteran's right lower extremity radiculopathy was evaluated at a 20 percent rating, and the Board found that it did not meet the criteria for a higher evaluation.
- Dismissed
The Veteran withdrew the claims for psychiatric disability and sleep apnea.,Service connection was granted for right lower extremity radiculopathy and left lower extremity radiculopathy secondary to a service-connected back disability, but denied for right wrist disability.
- Denied
The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for degenerative disc disease prior to August 1, 2025 was denied as the evidence did not show unfavorable ankylosis of the thoracolumbar spine.,The Veteran's claims for higher ratings for left and right lower extremity radiculopathy prior to March 10, 2025 were denied as there is no neurological impairment associated with these conditions.
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