The Board granted service connection for a lumbosacral strain and lumbar radiculopathy of the left and right lower extremities, all found to be secondary to the Veteran's service-connected bilateral knee degenerative joint disease.
The deciding factor: The private medical opinion provided high probative value as it was based on a review of the Veteran's medical history and contained a complete rationale, including references to medical literature, while the VA examiner did not provide a complete rationale regarding the aggravation prong of secondary service connection.
- Claimed conditions
- Lumbosacral strain, Lumbar radiculopathy of the left lower extremity, Lumbar radiculopathy of the right lower extremity
- How they argued it
- Secondary to another service-connected condition
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- November 6, 2024
- Citation
- A24072582
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.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the Veteran's claims for additional VA examinations to properly evaluate the current severity of her disabilities.
- Dismissed
The appeal is dismissed due to res judicata, as the issues were previously adjudicated and are now barred from further review.
- Dismissed
The appeal was dismissed due to untimely filing of the Notice of Disagreement (NOD) for claims related to an increased rating and service connection, as well as lack of jurisdiction over a previously granted claim for sinusitis.
- Granted
The Veteran was granted separate ratings of special monthly compensation (SMC) based on the need for aid and attendance, a higher rating under 38 U.S.C. § 1114(o), and a higher rating under 38 U.S.C. § 1114(r)(1).
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