The Board granted an initial 20 percent rating for degenerative disc disease with degenerative joint disease and intervertebral disc syndrome of the thoracolumbar spine prior to May 3, 2023, but denied a higher rating from that date. The claim for an increased rating for left lower extremity radiculopathy was also denied.
The deciding factor: The decision was based on the severity of the Veteran's symptoms and their impact on his daily functioning, as well as the medical evidence provided during the appeal period.
- Claimed conditions
- Degenerative Disc Disease (DDD) with Degenerative Joint Disease (DJD) and Intervertebral Disc Syndrome (IVDS) of the thoracolumbar spine, Left Lower Extremity Radiculopathy, Sciatic Nerve
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- October 28, 2024
- Citation
- 24032285
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 258 · Granted: 30% (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 24032285.
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.
- 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.
- Partly granted
The Board denied higher ratings for tinnitus, OSA, and decreased anal sphincter tone of unknown etiology. The 20 percent rating was restored for right and left lower extremity radiculopathy, sciatic nerve, and the appeal for restoration following the proposed reduction in evaluation for right knee flexion was dismissed.
- Partly granted
The Board granted service connection for IVDS, left and right lower extremity radiculopathies (sciatic and femoral nerves), and increased the rating for PTSD and claustrophobia to 70 percent. The right knee condition and erectile dysfunction were remanded.
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