The Veteran's claim for an increased rating of DDD with IVDS was granted, along with separate ratings for left and right lower extremity radiculopathy. The effective date is set at September 5, 2012.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's back condition resulted in incapacitating episodes meeting the criteria for a 60 percent rating under the IVDS Formula, warranting an increased rating. Separate ratings were granted for left and right lower extremity radiculopathy due to associated symptoms.
- Claimed conditions
- Degenerative Disc Disease (DDD) with Intervertebral Disc Syndrome (IVDS), Left Lower Extremity Radiculopathy, Sciatic Nerve, Left Lower Extremity Radiculopathy, Femoral Nerve, Right Lower Extremity Radiculopathy, Sciatic Nerve, Right Lower Extremity Radiculopathy, Femoral Nerve
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 60%
- Decision date
- April 16, 2024
- Citation
- 24016256
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 24016256.
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.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has decided that the Veteran's DDD with IVDS should be remanded for further evaluation due to a lack of a direct service connection opinion.
- Denied
The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and earlier effective dates were denied.,Both the lumbar spine condition and right lower extremity radiculopathy were rated at 40 percent, with no higher rating granted.
- Granted
The Veteran's depressive disorder due to another medical condition with mixed features is granted a rating of 50 percent.,Service connection for generalized anxiety disorder, persistent depressive disorder, and somatic symptom disorder are all granted.,Service connection for pain of lumbar spine, left lower extremity radiculopathy, and right lower extremity radiculopathy are all granted.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claims for an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for degenerative disc disease and associated radiculopathy, as the record does not include all relevant treatment records prior to back surgery.
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