The Board granted service connection for degenerative disc disease and degenerative arthritis of the spine, degenerative disc disease and degenerative arthritis of the cervical spine, and left lower extremity radiculopathy.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's degenerative disc disease and degenerative arthritis of the thoracolumbar and lumbar spine is related to back complaints in service. The Veteran's degenerative disc disease and degenerative arthritis of the cervical spine is related to a fall in service. The Veteran's diagnosed left lower extremity radiculopathy is caused by his service-connected back disability.
- Claimed conditions
- Degenerative disc disease and degenerative arthritis of the spine, Degenerative disc disease and degenerative arthritis of the cervical spine, Left lower extremity radiculopathy
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 100%
- Decision date
- November 6, 2024
- Citation
- A24072225
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 Veteran was granted an effective date of July 31, 2012, for TDIU and October 22, 2012, for service connection of left and right lower extremity radiculopathy.
- Denied
The appeal for higher ratings and effective dates for various conditions was denied, with the exception of left and right lower extremity radiculopathy which were granted an earlier effective date.
- Partly granted
The Veteran's cervical spine disability is granted a 30 percent rating, while the lumbar and lower extremity radiculopathy claims are denied. An earlier effective date for right lower extremity radiculopathy was granted, and TDIU based on single service-connected disability is remanded.
- Partly granted
The Board granted service connection for a separate 50 percent initial rating for insomnia as secondary to tinnitus, and denied an increased rating for tinnitus. The Board also granted service connection for headache disability, low back disability, left lower extremity radiculopathy, cervical spine disability, and right upper extremity radiculopathy.
We are not the VA. Veterans’ Rights is an independent resource built for veterans. We are not the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, not part of the government, and not endorsed by any government agency.
This is general information, not legal advice. For advice about your own situation, talk to a VA-accredited representative — many help for free.