The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date of August 3, 2021, but no earlier, for the assignment of a 20 percent disability rating for left lower extremity radiculopathy is granted. The claim for an effective date prior to July 26, 2022, for service connection of right lower extremity radiculopathy is denied.

The deciding factor: The evidence supports that the Veteran's symptoms worsened on August 3, 2021, which is the earliest date as of which it is ascertainable that an increase in disability had occurred within a year of the July 26, 2022, VA 21-526EZ claim for an increased rating.

Claimed conditions

left lower extremity radiculopathy, right lower extremity radiculopathy

How they argued it

Direct service connection

Exposure basis

None

Rating assigned

20%

Decision date

December 23, 2025

Citation

A25110150

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