The Veteran is granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to his lumbar spine disability, which includes bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy, effective January 1, 2017, and special monthly compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1114(s) for the same date.
The deciding factor: The Board finds that the Veteran's lumbar spine disability with associated radiculopathy renders him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation as of January 1, 2017.
- Claimed conditions
- lumbar spondylosis and degenerative disc disease (DDD) with intervertebral disc syndrome (IVDS), bilateral lower extremity sciatic radiculopathy
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 100%
- Decision date
- July 1, 2025
- Citation
- 25008621
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 has remanded the claims for increased ratings and earlier effective dates, as well as a claim for special home adaptation, due to pre-decisional duty to assist errors.
- Granted
The Board granted service connection for a back disability with associated bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy, finding that the Veteran's condition is related to his military service.
- Granted
The Board granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, effective from the date of the February 2025 rating decision.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claim for a medical examination to determine if the Veteran's current neck strain is related to his in-service activities.
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