The Board granted an increased disability rating of 20 percent for both the thoracolumbar spine degenerative disc disease with lumbosacral strain and left lower extremity lumbar radiculopathy, resolving all doubt in favor of the Veteran.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's thoracolumbar spine disability caused muscle spasms severe enough to result in an abnormal gait, and his left lower extremity radiculopathy manifested moderate incomplete paralysis.
- Claimed conditions
- thoracolumbar spine degenerative disc disease with lumbosacral strain, left lower extremity lumbar radiculopathy
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 20%
- Decision date
- May 2, 2025
- Citation
- A25040440
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 Board reinstated the 50 percent disability rating for squamous cell carcinoma of the scalp with surgical scars, effective February 19, 2024. Service connection was also restored for lumbosacral strain and various radiculopathies.
- Granted
The Board granted initial 40 percent ratings for left and right lower extremity lumbar radiculopathy, but no higher.
- Granted
The Board granted earlier effective dates of November 21, 2019, for the grants of service connection for spinal stenosis associated with intervertebral disc syndrome, left and right lower extremity radiculopathy, and left knee tendinitis. The claim for an earlier effective date for special monthly compensation based on housebound criteria was denied.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claims for service connection for bilateral knee disabilities, lumbar strain disability, and lower extremity radiculopathy disabilities due to an inadequate VA examination.
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