The Board granted earlier effective dates for the award of service connection for radiculopathy in all lower extremities and denied an increased rating for degenerative arthritis, lumbar spine.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's symptoms began during combat in the Korean War, and a diagnosis was made on May 24, 2017. The effective date is based on this diagnosis.
- Claimed conditions
- radiculopathy, left lower extremity (illio-inguinal nerve), radiculopathy, left lower extremity (femoral nerve), radiculopathy, left lower extremity (sciatic nerve), radiculopathy, right lower extremity (illio-inguinal nerve), radiculopathy, right lower extremity (femoral nerve), radiculopathy, right lower extremity (sciatic nerve), degenerative arthritis, degenerative disc disease, lumbar spine
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 20%
- Decision date
- April 9, 2025
- Citation
- A25033044
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.
- Dismissed
The appeal seeking service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II, degenerative arthritis, hyperlipidemia, and hypertension was dismissed due to non-compliance with claims processing rules.
- Granted
The Board granted a 40 percent disability rating for the Veteran's lumbar spine disability since September 26, 2024.
- Dismissed
The appeal to reopen the previous denial of service connection for lumbosacral strain is dismissed as the benefit sought has been fully granted.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claims for service connection for various conditions to correct pre-decisional duty to assist errors, including obtaining outstanding Social Security Administration records.
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