The Board denied the veteran's claims for an initial rating greater than 10 percent for radiculopathy of the right lower extremity and greater than 20 percent for degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine and degenerative disc disease, as the evidence did not support a higher rating.
The deciding factor: The Board found that the Veteran's service-connected conditions were manifested by mild symptoms, which supported the current ratings assigned.
- Claimed conditions
- Radiculopathy of the right lower extremity, Degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine and degenerative disc disease
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- March 11, 2025
- Citation
- A25022491
What this means for you
A denial is a starting point, not the end of the road. You can see why this claim fell short — and, if you are still inside the one-year window, the appeal lanes that may remain open to you.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Partly granted
The Board granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include a mood disorder and alcohol abuse disorder, secondary to the Veteran's service-connected disabilities. The other claims for increased ratings were denied.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claims for higher staged ratings and initial ratings in excess of 10 percent, 20 percent, and 10 percent for radiculopathy of the left lower extremity, right lower extremity, and residual painful surgical scar, posterior trunk respectively, to correct a pre-decisional duty to assist error.
- Partly granted
The Board granted an earlier effective date of January 30, 1978 for the award of service connection for TBI with unspecified neurocognitive disorder and denied earlier effective dates for radiculopathy of the right and left lower extremities.
- Denied
The Board denied entitlement to a TDIU prior to April 15, 2011, as the Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not preclude him from obtaining or maintaining substantial gainful employment.
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