The Veteran's lumbar spine, right lower extremity sciatic nerve radiculopathy, left lower extremity radiculopathy, and right ankle disabilities were granted increased ratings to 40 percent from July 8, 2016.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's lumbar spine disability results in flare-ups producing pain that is shown to render his thoracolumbar spine to a limited range of motion (forward flexion to 30 degrees or less).
- Claimed conditions
- Degenerative arthritis of the spine, Right lower extremity sciatic nerve radiculopathy, Left lower extremity radiculopathy, Right ankle strain with degenerative arthritis
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 40%
- Decision date
- July 11, 2025
- Citation
- 25009078
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.
- Partly granted
The Veteran was granted an effective date of July 31, 2012, for TDIU and October 22, 2012, for service connection of left and right lower extremity radiculopathy.
- Denied
The appeal for higher ratings and effective dates for various conditions was denied, with the exception of left and right lower extremity radiculopathy which were granted an earlier effective date.
- Granted
The Board granted earlier effective dates of June 2, 2023, for the grant of service connection for various conditions and eligibility to Dependents' Educational Assistance.
- Granted
The Board granted service connection for degenerative arthritis of the spine, intervertebral disc syndrome (IVDS), and foraminal stenosis based on a finding that these conditions are related to the Veteran's military service.
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