The Veteran's service-connected cervical stenosis with myelopathy and myelomalacia is granted secondary to his service-connected lumbosacral strain with IVDS. The rating for lumbosacral strain with IVDS remains at 20 percent, but a separate compensable rating is granted for neurological impairment of the right lower extremity. Ratings for left hip degenerative arthritis are also granted.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's cervical stenosis with myelopathy and myelomalacia was found to be secondary to his service-connected lumbosacral strain with IVDS, resulting in a grant of service connection on that basis. The rating for the lumbosacral strain remains at 20 percent due to the presence of an incapacitating episode (flare-ups) lasting about two days per month. A separate compensable rating is granted for neurological impairment of the right lower extremity secondary to his service-connected lumbosacral strain with IVDS.
- Claimed conditions
- cervical stenosis with myelopathy and myelomalacia, lumbosacral strain with IVDS
- How they argued it
- Secondary to another service-connected condition
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 20%
- Decision date
- December 31, 2024
- Citation
- A24086892
This is a plain-language summary generated by AI from a public Board of Veterans’ Appeals decision. It can contain errors — always verify against the original. Look up the original decision on VA.gov (opens in a new tab) using citation A24086892.
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.
- Granted
The Veteran's lumbosacral strain with IVDS and associated radiculopathies of the left and right lower extremities are granted at a 40 percent rating prior to December 27, 2023, and denied for ratings in excess of this level from that date.
- Granted
The Board has granted effective dates of September 16, 2023 for the appellant's service-connected migraines (50%), lumbosacral spine disability (40%), and cervical spine disability (30%). These ratings were increased from their initial effective dates based on the appellant's continuous pursuit of review options.
- Denied
The Board denied a rating in excess of 40 percent for lumbar spine disability and a rating in excess of 10 percent for left-sided mild incomplete paralysis of the sciatic nerve.
- Partly granted
The Veteran is granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to his service-connected disabilities, and the reduction in the rating of lumbosacral strain with IVDS from 40 percent to 20 percent was not proper; the 40 percent rating is restored effective September 18, 2023.
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