The Veteran's ratings for DDD, thoracolumbar spine with degenerative arthritis, LLE radiculopathy, sciatic nerve, and RLE radiculopathy, sciatic nerve were restored to their previous levels of 20 percent effective April 22, 2021.
The deciding factor: The reduction in ratings was improper due to actual improvement in the Veteran's back disability and ability to function under ordinary conditions of life and work during the appeal period.
- Claimed conditions
- Degenerative Disc Disease (DDD), Thoracolumbar Spine with Degenerative Arthritis, Left Lower Extremity (LLE) Radiculopathy, Sciatic Nerve, Right Lower Extremity (RLE) Radiculopathy, Sciatic Nerve
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 20%
- Decision date
- July 31, 2024
- Citation
- A24042329
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 A24042329.
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 restored the 10 percent rating for right lower extremity (RLE) radiculopathy, femoral nerve, and denied increased ratings for left lower extremity radiculopathy, sciatic nerve, erectile dysfunction, TBI with unspecified depressive disorder, and migraines.
- Denied
The Board denied a rating in excess of 20 percent for left lower extremity (LLE) radiculopathy, sciatic nerve, as the evidence did not support a finding of moderate incomplete paralysis.
- Denied
The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected lumbar myositis, psychoneurosis and conversion hysteria, residuals of shrapnel wounds of the left thigh and pelvis with retained foreign bodies and scars, and residuals of shell fragment wounds of the right thigh and left leg. The veteran was also denied entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities.
- Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claim for an initial evaluation in excess of 10 percent for his service-connected coronary artery disease, finding that the evidence did not support a higher rating based on the severity of his condition.
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