The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for various radiculopathies and a migraine, but granted an increase to 20 percent for degenerative arthritis of the thoracolumbar spine effective March 1, 2023.
The deciding factor: The evidence did not support a finding of more than mild incomplete paralysis or other severe symptoms for the radiculopathies and migraines. However, there was sufficient evidence to warrant a 20 percent rating for degenerative arthritis of the thoracolumbar spine based on pain, limitation of motion, flare-ups, tenderness, and functional impairment.
- Claimed conditions
- right lower extremity radiculopathy of the external cutaneous nerve, left lower extremity radiculopathy of the external cutaneous nerve, right lower extremity radiculopathy of the ilioinguinal nerve, left lower extremity radiculopathy of the ilioinguinal nerve, right lower extremity radiculopathy of the obturator nerve, left lower extremity radiculopathy of the obturator nerve, right lower extremity radiculopathy of the femoral nerve, left lower extremity radiculopathy of the femoral nerve, migraines, degenerative arthritis, thoracolumbar spine
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- November 4, 2024
- Citation
- A24071383
What this means for you
A denial is a starting point, not the end of the road. You can see why this claim fell short — and, if you are still inside the one-year window, the appeal lanes that may remain open to you.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
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