The Veteran's low back disorder is rated at 10 percent prior to July 8, 2019, and 20 percent thereafter. The effective date for service connection of the low back disorder due to aggravation by a service-connected disability has been granted as July 12, 2017.,The Veteran's left lower extremity radiculopathy is rated at 10 percent. An earlier effective date of March 14, 2019, for the grant of service connection for this condition has also been granted.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's low back disorder was found to be aggravated by his service-connected right knee disorder and thus warrants a separate rating based on aggravation. The left lower extremity radiculopathy is rated at the minimum compensable level due to its moderate incomplete paralysis.
- Claimed conditions
- Low back disorder, Left lower extremity radiculopathy
- How they argued it
- Aggravation of a pre-existing condition
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 10%
- Decision date
- November 24, 2023
- Citation
- A23033299
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 A23033299.
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 effective dates of July 10, 2024 for service connection for PTSD, lumbar strain, and left lower extremity radiculopathy.
- 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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