The Veteran's service connection for lumbar strain and left lower extremity nerve disability was granted with effective dates of April 21, 2014. A 20% rating is assigned for the initial period from April 21, 2014.,For the entire initial rating period from April 21, 2014 to present, a disability rating in excess of 20% for lumbar strain is denied.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's service connection claims were not reopened prior to April 21, 2014. The effective dates are based on the date of claim to reopen.,For the initial rating period from April 21, 2014, a 20% disability rating for lumbar strain is granted due to symptoms including pain and muscle spasm.
- Claimed conditions
- Lumbar Strain, Left Lower Extremity Nerve Disability
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 20%
- Decision date
- June 5, 2024
- Citation
- A24029118
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 A24029118.
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The Veteran's generalized anxiety disorder, hearing loss, and tinnitus are all granted service connection.,Service connection for GERD is also granted as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected generalized anxiety disorder.
- Granted
The Veteran is granted a TDIU from October 12, 2016 to November 12, 2018 and from January 1, 2019 to July 22, 2019 due to service-connected disabilities preventing him from securing or following any substantially gainful occupation.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's death was caused by heart failure, which the Board finds may be service-connected through secondary service connection due to obesity resulting from his service-connected PTSD and back disability. However, VA failed to obtain a medical opinion addressing whether obesity is a substantial factor in causing heart failure.
- Granted
The Veteran's service-connected PTSD, lumbar strain, and right shoulder strain have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation since October 17, 2018. TDIU is granted effective from that date.
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