The Board granted an effective date of April 24, 2014, for service connection for left and right lower extremity radiculopathy, a rating of 40 percent from April 24, 2014 to August 13, 2020 for the back disability, and a separate rating for bowel incontinence associated with the back disability.

The deciding factor: The evidence established that the Veteran had signs and symptoms of lower extremity radiculopathy prior to May 23, 2019, warranting an earlier effective date. The back disability manifested with functional equivalent of favorable ankylosis from April 24, 2014 to August 13, 2020, and bowel incontinence was associated with the service-connected condition.

Claimed conditions

left lower extremity radiculopathy, right lower extremity radiculopathy, degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine with intervertebral disc syndrome and spinal stenosis (back disability), bowel incontinence

How they argued it

Direct service connection

Exposure basis

None

Rating assigned

40%

Decision date

December 3, 2025

Citation

A25103847

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