The Board denied an initial rating in excess of 20 percent for radiculopathy of the right upper extremity, finding that the Veteran's condition was only manifested by mild incomplete paralysis.
The deciding factor: The evidence did not show moderate or severe incomplete paralysis as required for a higher rating under Diagnostic Code 8511.
- Claimed conditions
- Radiculopathy of the right upper extremity
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 20%
- Decision date
- April 9, 2025
- Citation
- A25032957
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 878 · Granted: 36% (granted or partly granted, in the vetted decisions on this site)
Judge attribution: 2025 complete; earlier years partial.
This is a plain-language summary generated by AI from a public Board of Veterans’ Appeals decision. It can contain errors — always verify against the original. Look up the original decision on VA.gov (opens in a new tab) using citation A25032957.
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.
- Granted
The Veteran's cervical spine disability and radiculopathy of both upper extremities have been granted increased ratings, with the left upper extremity receiving a higher rating due to more severe symptoms.
- Denied
The Veteran's claims for service connection for a cervical spine disorder and radiculopathy of the right upper extremity were denied due to lack of new and material evidence.,The effective date for the grant of service connection for these conditions was not earlier than April 22, 2016.
- Dismissed
The Veteran's appeals for a Total Disability Rating Based on Individual Unemployability (TDIU) and Dependents' Educational Assistance (DEA) prior to February 11, 2021 are dismissed as the issues remain pending in the Legacy system.
- Granted
The Board has determined that the severance of service connection for cervical spine disability and bilateral upper extremity radiculopathy was improper, as there is evidence indicating these conditions were incurred during service. The appeal is granted.
Free starter guide for your own claim
Reading this because you were denied or under-rated? Get the plain-English next steps — your appeal options, the deadline that protects you, and how appeals like yours turn out. One email, no spam.
We will only use this to send the guide. No spam, unsubscribe any time. We never sell your information.
We are not the VA. Veterans’ Rights is an independent resource built for veterans. We are not the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, not part of the government, and not endorsed by any government agency.
This is general information, not legal advice. For advice about your own situation, talk to a VA-accredited representative — many help for free.