The Veteran's lumbosacral radiculopathy of the left lower extremity is granted a 20% rating, effective February 7, 2012. The Veteran's surgical scar of the lumbosacral spine is granted a 10% rating on and after September 19, 2019. The reduction in the rating for lumbosacral degenerative disc and joint disease from 20% to 10% is restored.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's symptoms of pain, cramping, jolts, burning, and weakness were noted during the November 2019 VA examination. The examiner found no muscle atrophy or significant sensory deficits, leading to a moderate incomplete paralysis rating for lumbosacral radiculopathy.
- Claimed conditions
- lumbosacral degenerative disc and joint disease, lumbosacral radiculopathy of the left lower extremity, surgical scar of the lumbosacral spine
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 10%
- Decision date
- November 9, 2023
- Citation
- A23031679
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 A23031679.
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 appeal for a rating greater than 20 percent for lumbosacral radiculopathy of the left lower extremity prior to December 24, 2015, and after April 2, 2017, was withdrawn by the Veteran. An initial 40 percent rating for incomplete paralysis of the right lower extremity sciatic nerve is granted.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the issues of entitlement to a rating greater than 20 percent for lumbosacral radiculopathy of the left lower extremity and an initial rating greater than 10 percent for incomplete paralysis of the sciatic nerve of the right lower extremity for further development.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for lumbosacral strain, lumbosacral degenerative disc and joint disease and L3-L4 central spinal canal narrowing, left lower femoral radiculopathy, left lower sciatic radiculopathy, and right lower sciatic radiculopathy due to inconsistencies in the VA examination reports.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has determined that there was a duty to assist error and remanded the case for additional development. The Veteran's service-connected adjustment disorder with obesity is alleged to have caused or aggravated his obesity, which in turn allegedly caused his current low back condition.
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