The Board granted a 40 percent disability rating for the Veteran's back condition and a 20 percent disability rating for right lower extremity radiculopathy.
The deciding factor: The evidence supported that the Veteran's symptoms more closely approximated forward flexion of the thoracolumbar spine of no more than 30 degrees, warranting a 40 percent rating under the applicable diagnostic codes.
- Claimed conditions
- Intervertebral Disc Disease (IVDS) and Degenerative Disc Disease (DDD), lumbar spine, status post laminectomy, L4-S1
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 40%
- Decision date
- May 12, 2025
- Citation
- A25042277
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.
- Granted
The veteran was granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to his service-connected disabilities.
- Partly granted
The Board granted service connection for right knee strain, left knee strain, lumbar radiculopathy of the right lower extremity, and lumbar radiculopathy of the left lower extremity. It also granted initial ratings for various disabilities including a 20 percent rating for lumbar degenerative disc disease with intervertebral disc syndrome, spondylosis, and spondylolisthesis, a 30 percent rating for labral tear, including superior labral anterior-posterior lesion, status post surgical repair, and higher ratings for other conditions.
- Dismissed
The appeal for earlier effective dates for lumbar spine and bilateral lower extremity sciatica was dismissed due to a procedural defect in the docketing of the appeal.
- Dismissed
The appeal to reopen the previously denied claims for service connection for bilateral foot, lumbar spine, and right leg conditions is dismissed due to the Veteran's death.
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