The Board granted restoration of the 10 percent rating for left hip strain with limitation of flexion effective April 22, 2021, and granted an initial 20 percent rating for left lower extremity radiculopathy. The Board also granted a 70 percent rating for hypothyroidism with unspecified depressive disorder with anxious distress from March 21, 2021 to October 9, 2021.
The deciding factor: The reduction of the Veteran's left hip strain rating was improper due to insufficient evidence of improvement in her condition and failure to follow applicable regulations. The Board granted a higher rating for left lower extremity radiculopathy based on moderate involvement of the sciatic nerve, and a 70 percent rating for hypothyroidism with unspecified depressive disorder with anxious distress during a specific period.
- Claimed conditions
- left hip strain with limitation of flexion, left hip strain with limitation of extension, left hip strain with thigh impairment, lumbar strain, left lower extremity radiculopathy, hypothyroidism with unspecified depressive disorder with anxious distress, obstructive sleep apnea with asthma, systemic lupus
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- November 7, 2024
- Citation
- A24072952
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 denied earlier effective dates for the grant of service connection and granted initial 40 percent ratings for left upper extremity CTS, right lower extremity radiculopathy, and left lower extremity radiculopathy.
- Partly granted
The Board granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) and special monthly compensation (SMC) housebound status, but dismissed the claims for initial ratings in excess of 40 percent for lumbosacral spine disability, left lower extremity radiculopathy, and right lower extremity radiculopathy.
- Partly granted
The Board granted initial disability ratings of 40 percent for right and left lower extremity radiculopathy, a 20 percent rating for lumbar spine disability, denied an increased rating for obstructive sleep apnea with asthma, granted TDIU from May 7, 2021, and SMC from September 10, 2021.
- Denied
The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection, increased ratings, and earlier effective dates as there was no evidence to support a causal relationship between his current conditions and his active military service.
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