The Board granted a separate 20 percent disability rating for radiculopathy of the right and left upper extremities, as well as a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities (TDIU), but denied an increased rating in excess of 40 percent for the Veteran's back disability.
The deciding factor: The decision was based on the evidence not persuasively demonstrating that the Veteran's back disability has been productive of ankylosis, nor has he been diagnosed with Intervertebral Disc Syndrome (IVDS) with incapacitating episodes having a total duration of at least 6 weeks during the past 12 months.
- Claimed conditions
- status-post compression fracture T3-4 (back disability), radiculopathy of the right upper extremity, radiculopathy of the left upper extremity
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 20%
- Decision date
- June 13, 2025
- Citation
- 25007929
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.
- Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claim for eligibility for assistance in acquiring specially adapted housing or special home adaptation grant as he does not have a permanent and total service-connected disability that meets the criteria.
- Partly granted
The Board granted service connection for cervical strain with degenerative arthritis and IVDS, radiculopathy of the left and right upper extremities, but denied service connection for left knee strain with shin splints, thoracolumbar strain with IVDS, left shoulder disability to include shoulder strain with impingement syndrome and rotator cuff tendonitis, right shoulder disability to include shoulder strain with impingement syndrome and rotator cuff tendonitis with calcific tendinitis, and tinnitus.
- Granted
The Board granted service connection for a cervical spine disability, radiculopathy of the left upper extremity, low back disability, and radiculopathy of both lower extremities as secondary to the low back disability.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for fatigue, traumatic brain injury (TBI), gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), left wrist disability, cervical spine disability, radiculopathy of the right upper extremity, and radiculopathy of the left upper extremity as there was no evidence to support a current diagnosis or that these conditions were related to service.
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