The Veteran's service-connected lumbar spine and associated bilateral lower extremity radiculopathies rendered him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment from June 30, 2006, onward. The Board granted a 20% disability rating for the period on appeal (not including any periods of convalescence) due to severe muscle spasm and guarding resulting in abnormal gait or spinal contour.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's service-connected lumbar spine degenerative disc disease was found to approximate forward flexion limited to 30 degrees or less, warranting a 40% disability rating. However, the evidence did not support this finding at any time during the period on appeal.
- Claimed conditions
- Degenerative Disc Disease (DDD) of the Lumbar Spine, Left Lower Extremity Sciatic Nerve Radiculopathy, Right Lower Extremity Sciatic Nerve Radiculopathy, Left Lower Extremity Femoral Nerve Radiculopathy, Right Lower Extremity Femoral Nerve Radiculopathy
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 20%
- Decision date
- December 3, 2024
- Citation
- 24033756
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 24033756.
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.
- Granted
The Veteran's initial ratings for left lower extremity (LLE) radiculopathy, sciatic nerve and femoral nerve have been granted at a 20 percent level.
- Denied
The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is rated as noncompensable prior to August 19, 2024 and at a 20% rating since that date.,The Veteran's depressive disorder is rated as 30% prior to December 1, 2022 and at a 40% rating since that date.,The Veteran's lumbar spine disability is rated as 20% prior to December 1, 2022 and at a 40% rating since that date.,The Veteran's left lower extremity sciatic nerve radiculopathy is rated as 10% prior to August 3, 2024 and at a 20% rating since that date.,The Veteran's right lower extremity sciatic nerve radiculopathy is rated as 10% prior to August 3, 2024 and at a 20% rating since that date.,The Veteran's left lower extremity femoral nerve radiculopathy is rated as 20% since August 3, 2024.,The Veteran's right ankle disability is rated as 10% prior to August 27, 2024 and at a 20% rating since that date.
- Granted
The Veteran's service-connected conditions were granted increased ratings, and attorney fees are awarded for past-due benefits resulting from these decisions.
- Granted
The Veteran's left and right lower extremity sciatic nerve radiculopathies have been granted increased disability ratings of 40 percent each.,The Veteran's left and right lower extremity femoral nerve radiculopathies have been granted increased disability ratings of 30 percent each.
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