The Board granted an initial rating of 40 percent for lumbar spine degenerative disc disease, as well as service connection for radiculopathy in both lower extremities and direct service connection for sinusitis.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's lumbar spine DDD resulted in forward flexion limited to 30 degrees or less, supporting a 40 percent rating. The radiculopathies were found to be secondary to the lumbar spine condition, and sinusitis was shown to have its initial onset during service.
- Claimed conditions
- lumbar spine degenerative disc disease (DDD), radiculopathy of the right lower extremity, radiculopathy of the left lower extremity, sinusitis
- How they argued it
- Secondary to another service-connected condition
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 40%
- Decision date
- June 4, 2025
- Citation
- A25049534
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 granted service connection for asthma and remanded claims for insomnia and sleep apnea. Other conditions were denied.
- 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 granted higher ratings for the Veteran's service-connected carpal tunnel syndrome and cubital tunnel syndrome of both upper extremities, but remanded claims for service connection for sinusitis, calcified lymph nodes on the lungs, and cervical strain.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for various conditions, including sinusitis, elbows condition, cervical condition, erectile dysfunction, kidney condition, sleep apnea, wrists condition, asthma, shoulders condition, ankles condition, eye condition (bilateral dry macular degeneration), peripheral vascular disease (heart condition), and rhinitis.
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