The Board granted an initial rating of 20 percent for right and left lower extremity radiculopathy, and a 50 percent rating from February 1, 2015, to November 20, 2019, for tension/migraine headaches. The lumbar spine disorder and chronic maxillary sinusitis were denied higher ratings.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's symptoms of radiculopathy and headaches met the criteria for increased ratings based on their severity, while his lumbar spine condition did not show enough limitation to warrant a higher rating under the applicable diagnostic codes.
- Claimed conditions
- Degenerative Disc Disease (DDD) of the lumbar spine, Chronic maxillary sinusitis, Tension/migraine headaches, Right lower extremity radiculopathy of the sciatic nerve, Right lower extremity radiculopathy of the femoral nerve, Left lower extremity radiculopathy of the sciatic nerve, Left lower extremity radiculopathy of the femoral nerve
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- January 23, 2024
- Citation
- 24003199
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 Veteran was granted a 40% rating for his low back condition and a 60% rating for left lower extremity radiculopathy of the sciatic nerve, while other claims were denied.
- Denied
The Board denied the veteran's appeals for increased ratings and remanded certain issues, including TDIU and SMC.
- Partly granted
The Board granted restoration of 20 percent ratings for left and right lower extremity radiculopathies of the sciatic and femoral nerves, but denied increased ratings in excess of 20 percent. The Board also remanded service connection for prostate cancer and a rating increase for low back strain.
- Partly granted
The Board granted an earlier effective date of November 30, 2023, for the grants of service connection for right and left lower extremity radiculopathy of the femoral nerve.
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