The Board granted earlier effective dates for the award of service connection for left and right lower extremity radiculopathy, as well as a higher initial rating for left upper extremity radiculopathy.
The deciding factor: The evidence is approximately evenly balanced as to whether entitlement to service connection arose prior to or contemporaneous with the Veteran's January 6, 1993 claim.
- Claimed conditions
- left lower extremity radiculopathy of the sciatic nerve, right lower extremity radiculopathy of the sciatic nerve, left upper extremity radiculopathy, headache disability (secondary to service-connected disability), sleep disability (secondary to service-connected disability), disability manifested by impaired concentration (secondary to service-connected disability)
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 30%
- Decision date
- October 29, 2024
- Citation
- A24069642
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.
- Partly granted
The Board granted earlier effective dates for TDIU and DEA, but denied increased ratings for various service-connected conditions.
- Granted
The Board granted service connection for multiple disabilities, including cervical spine and thoracolumbar spine disabilities, radiculopathies, a bladder disability, headaches, a left knee disability, an acquired psychiatric disorder, and bilateral conjunctivitis. The Board also granted entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disability.
- Granted
The Board granted an initial rating of 50 percent for right upper extremity radiculopathy and 40 percent for left upper extremity radiculopathy.
- Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's appeal for an earlier effective date for service connection for right lower extremity radiculopathy of the sciatic nerve, as August 21, 2023, is the earliest possible effective date based on VA receiving the claim.
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