The Board has granted service connection for cervical spine DDD and DJD, RIGHT upper extremity radiculopathy, LUMBAR spine DDD and DJD, RIGHT lower extremity radiculopathy, and LEFT lower extremity radiculopathy. Service connection was denied for prediabetes/hyperglycemia, obstructive sleep apnea, a LEFT heel disorder (also claimed as 'bursitis hindfoot'), and a RIGHT eye disability.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's current disabilities are related to his military service due to the nature of his MOS duties involving heavy lifting and maintenance of weapons during periods of active duty in the Army from 1969 to 1972 and in the line of duty during multiple periods of ACDUTRA and INACDUTRA in the Army Reserve from 1972 to 1995.
- Claimed conditions
- CERVICAL spine degenerative disc disease (DDD) and degenerative joint disease (DJD), RIGHT upper extremity radiculopathy, LUMBAR spine degenerative disc disease (DDD) and degenerative joint disease (DJD), RIGHT lower extremity radiculopathy, LEFT lower extremity radiculopathy
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- November 8, 2023
- Citation
- 23060293
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 23060293.
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 service connection claims for various conditions have been granted, including lumbar spine DDD, cervical spine disorder, LEFT shoulder disorder, bilateral ankle disorders, and basal cell carcinoma of the skin. Secondary service connection has also been established for radiculopathy in both lower extremities.
- Dismissed
The Board has dismissed the appeals for increased ratings greater than 30 percent for each knee on and after May 6, 2021. The remaining issues of increased ratings for lumbar spine degenerative arthritis with a lumbar strain, status post anterior fusion; initial rating greater than 20 percent for RIGHT lower extremity radiculopathy prior to December 10, 2019 and on and after December 10, 2019; and temporary total rating under the provisions of 38 C.F.R. § 4.30 following lumbar spine surgeries have been remanded for further development.
- Granted
The Veteran's disability rating for RIGHT lower extremity radiculopathy was reduced from 10 percent to 0 percent, effective July 29, 2019. The reduction was not proper as the evidence did not show an actual improvement in his ability to function.,Effective March 30, 2018, the Veteran's combination of service-connected disabilities prevented him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation.
- Granted
The Veteran is granted annual VA clothing allowances for the year 2017 due to use of his bilateral knee braces, which tend to wear out his pants.
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