The Board granted effective dates of September 1, 2017, for the initial ratings of various service-connected conditions and basic eligibility to Dependents' Educational Assistance (DEA), but remanded issues related to higher ratings.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's symptoms were consistent since his separation from service, supporting an earlier effective date for the increased ratings.
- Claimed conditions
- right upper extremity radiculopathy, left upper extremity radiculopathy, right acromioclavicular joint osteoarthritis, left shoulder impingement syndrome with degenerative arthritis, degenerative arthritis of the cervical spine, right elbow medial epicondylitis and strain
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- January 19, 2024
- Citation
- 24002867
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.
- Partly granted
The Board granted earlier effective dates for TDIU and DEA, but denied increased ratings for various service-connected conditions.
- Partly granted
The Board granted a 20 percent disability rating for left and right lower extremity radiculopathy from April 3, 2023 onward, but denied higher ratings prior to that date. Service connection was also granted for alcohol use disorder as secondary to PTSD with traumatic brain injury.
- Granted
The Board granted service connection for multiple disabilities, including cervical spine and thoracolumbar spine disabilities, radiculopathies, a bladder disability, headaches, a left knee disability, an acquired psychiatric disorder, and bilateral conjunctivitis. The Board also granted entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disability.
- Granted
The Board granted an initial rating of 50 percent for right upper extremity radiculopathy and 40 percent for left upper extremity radiculopathy.
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