The Veteran's claims for service connection for thoracolumbar strain, right lower extremity radiculopathy, and left lower extremity radiculopathy have been granted. The claim for an increased rating for other specified depressive disorder has also been granted.
The deciding factor: Service connection was established based on new evidence showing a link between the Veteran's in-service injury and his current symptoms, including thoracolumbar strain, right and left lower extremity radiculopathy, and other specified depressive disorder. The increased rating for depressive disorder is assigned as it meets the criteria for total occupational and social impairment.
- Claimed conditions
- thoracolumbar strain/pain, right ankle disorder (previously claimed as ankles sprained), left ankle disorder (previously claimed as ankles sprained)
- How they argued it
- Not specified
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 70%
- Decision date
- January 19, 2024
- Citation
- 24002961
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 734 · Granted: 31% (granted or partly granted, in the vetted decisions on this site)
Judge attribution: 2025 complete; earlier years partial.
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 24002961.
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
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