The Board granted a 20 percent rating for intervertebral disc syndrome with degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine and cervical spine, effective February 14, 2020. The decision also granted service connection for right and left lower extremity sciatic and femoral radiculopathy, as well as TDIU.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's pain and corresponding functional impairment, including during flare-ups, supported the grant of a higher rating for his thoracic spine DJD and neck disability. The effective date was set to February 14, 2020, based on VA receiving an intent to file followed by a fully developed claim.
- Claimed conditions
- Intervertebral disc syndrome with degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine, Intervertebral disc syndrome with degenerative arthritis of the cervical spine, Right lower extremity sciatic radiculopathy, Left lower extremity sciatic radiculopathy, Right lower extremity femoral radiculopathy, Left lower extremity femoral radiculopathy, Obstructive sleep apnea
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 20%
- Decision date
- May 5, 2025
- Citation
- A25040863
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.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, chronic rhinitis, and obstructive sleep apnea. The headache claim was remanded for further examination.
- Partly granted
The appeal was denied for service connection of a cervical spine disorder, and several claims were remanded for further development.
- Granted
The Veteran is granted special monthly compensation (SMC) at the R(1) rate due to his need for regular aid and attendance.
- Partly granted
The Board granted service connection for lumbar spine disability, as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected left foot crush injury, and sciatic radiculopathy of both lower extremities, also secondary to the newly service-connected lumbar spine disability. The Board denied an initial rating in excess of 70 percent for depressive disorder with unspecified anxiety disorder and a compensable rating for allergic rhinitis.
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