The Veteran's service connection for right ankle range-of-motion loss, secondary to his service-connected lumbar strain status post laminectomy and microdiscectomy, was granted. An earlier effective date of March 1, 2016, but no earlier, for the 20 percent rating assigned for lumbar strain status post laminectomy and microdiscectomy was also granted.

The deciding factor: The evidence supports a finding that the Veteran has experienced functional impairment approximating the 20 percent rating criteria under the General Rating Formula for Disease and Injuries of the Spine throughout the applicable rating period based on his July 7, 2016, claim, when considering the effects of flare-ups.

Claimed conditions

right ankle range-of-motion loss, lumbar strain status post laminectomy and microdiscectomy, left lower extremity radiculopathy

How they argued it

Secondary to another service-connected condition

Exposure basis

None

Rating assigned

20%

Decision date

December 23, 2025

Citation

25015204

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