The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his service-connected chronic lumbar strain was denied. However, he was granted service connection for bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy secondary to his service-connected lumbar strain and assigned a 10 percent disability rating for each leg.
The deciding factor: The VA examiner found that the Veteran's radiculopathy is secondary to the progression of degenerative disc disease involving the lumbar spine, which is service-connected.
- Claimed conditions
- Chronic lumbar strain with associated degenerative disc disease and central canal stenosis, Bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy, sciatic nerve
- How they argued it
- Secondary to another service-connected condition
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 10%
- Decision date
- May 24, 2024
- Citation
- A24027407
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 A24027407.
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.
- Partly granted
The Board denied earlier effective dates and higher ratings for the Veteran's service-connected conditions, granted initial 20 percent ratings for bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy, sciatic nerve, and remanded claims for total disability based on individual unemployability (TDIU) and special monthly compensation (SMC).
- Granted
The Veteran's spinal stenosis with DDD and IVDS is rated at 50 percent, granting a higher rating than previously. The TDIU claim is granted as the Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment. Service connection for bilateral upper extremity disability secondary to service-connected lower back disability is remanded.
- Granted
The Board has determined that the Veteran's headaches are at least as likely as not caused by his service-connected traumatic brain injury, and thus grants service connection for this condition.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for hypertension and peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral upper and lower extremities due to insufficient medical opinions regarding their etiology.
Free starter guide for your own claim
Reading this because you were denied or under-rated? Get the plain-English next steps — your appeal options, the deadline that protects you, and how appeals like yours turn out. One email, no spam.
We will only use this to send the guide. No spam, unsubscribe any time. We never sell your information.
We are not the VA. Veterans’ Rights is an independent resource built for veterans. We are not the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, not part of the government, and not endorsed by any government agency.
This is general information, not legal advice. For advice about your own situation, talk to a VA-accredited representative — many help for free.