The Veteran's service-connected radiculopathy of the bilateral lower extremities was rated as 20 percent disabling for more than five years. The VA Regional Office improperly reduced each rating to 10 percent, effective February 1, 2019. The Board has restored the 20 percent ratings and remanded the cases for further development.
The deciding factor: The reduction was improper as it did not follow the applicable regulations regarding reductions in disability ratings.
- Claimed conditions
- radiculopathy of the bilateral lower extremities
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 20%
- Decision date
- September 7, 2023
- Citation
- 23049215
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 23049215.
What this means for you
A partial grant means some issues were granted while others were denied or remanded — common in multi-issue claims. Look at which issues went which way, and how each was argued.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Granted
The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for spinal stenosis of the back with degenerative arthritis, to include associated radiculopathy of the bilateral lower extremities. The evidence supports a finding that these conditions are related to the Veteran's military service.
- Dismissed
The Veteran withdrew his appeal for readjudication of the claim for service connection for radiculopathy of the bilateral lower extremities.
- Granted
The Board has granted service connection for a back disability, lower back scar, and radiculopathy of the bilateral lower extremities. Service connection for a bilateral shoulder disability is denied.
- Dismissed
The appeal was dismissed because the veteran died while it was pending. The decision does not affect the right of an eligible person to continue the appeal.
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