The Veteran's lumbar spine disability and lower extremity radiculopathy disabilities are granted with a 20 percent rating each, effective from the date of the initial claim. The earlier effective date for service connection is denied.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's lumbar spine disability meets the criteria for a 40 percent rating based on forward flexion limited to 30 degrees or less and unfavorable ankylosis of the entire thoracolumbar spine, which is the highest schedular rating available under the General Formula. The lower extremity radiculopathy disabilities meet the criteria for separate 20 percent ratings each.
- Claimed conditions
- lumbar spine disability, right lower extremity radiculopathy, left lower extremity radiculopathy
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 40%
- Decision date
- November 3, 2022
- Citation
- 22061973
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 22061973.
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.
- Dismissed
The Veteran's appeals were dismissed due to the death of the appellant. The issues related to service connection for various conditions and disability ratings.
- Granted
The Board has granted service connection for a lumbar spine disability, left lower extremity radiculopathy, and right lower extremity radiculopathy as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected lumbar spine disability.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has decided to remand the claims for miscarriage, cervical spine disability, lumbar spine disability, and right elbow disability due to insufficient examination opinions and incomplete service history verification.
- Granted
The Board has granted service connection for left lower extremity radiculopathy and denied the claims for right knee disability, erectile dysfunction, GERD, sleep apnea, and hypertension. The decision is remanded for further action on these issues.
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