The Board granted service connection for left and right lower extremity radiculopathy as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected low back strain, a right ankle disability as secondary to her service-connected left ankle sprain, and assigned a rating of 20 percent for the Veteran's low back strain.
The deciding factor: The evidence was at least in approximate balance as to whether the Veteran's current radiculopathy and right ankle disability were due to her service-connected conditions, so the Board resolved all doubt in favor of the Veteran.
- Claimed conditions
- left lower extremity radiculopathy, right lower extremity radiculopathy, right ankle disability, low back strain, left ankle sprain
- How they argued it
- Secondary to another service-connected condition
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 20%
- Decision date
- May 7, 2025
- Citation
- A25041452
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 multiple conditions, including bilateral hearing loss and various musculoskeletal issues, as well as an initial rating in excess of 0 percent for rhinitis. However, the Board granted a 70 percent rating for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
- Partly granted
The Board denied earlier effective dates for the grant of service connection and granted initial 40 percent ratings for left upper extremity CTS, right lower extremity radiculopathy, and left lower extremity radiculopathy.
- Partly granted
The Veteran's award of total disability based on individual unemployability (TDIU) is granted effective from April 15, 2017, solely based on his unspecified anxiety disorder. The claim for an earlier effective date for service connection for right lower extremity radiculopathy was denied.
- Partly granted
The Board granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) and special monthly compensation (SMC) housebound status, but dismissed the claims for initial ratings in excess of 40 percent for lumbosacral spine disability, left lower extremity radiculopathy, and right lower extremity radiculopathy.
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