The Board granted a 20 percent disability rating for left and right lower extremity radiculopathy from April 3, 2023 onward, but denied higher ratings prior to that date. Service connection was also granted for alcohol use disorder as secondary to PTSD with traumatic brain injury.

The deciding factor: The Veteran's service-connected conditions were evaluated based on the severity of symptoms and medical evidence provided, leading to a grant in part and denial in part.

Claimed conditions

left lower extremity (LLE) radiculopathy, right lower extremity (RLE) radiculopathy, boxers fracture of the 5th metacarpal of the right hand, left ear hearing loss, alcohol use disorder as secondary to PTSD with traumatic brain injury (TBI), lumbar degenerative disc disease with intervertebral disc syndrome (IVDS), right knee meniscal tear with degenerative joint disease, left knee patellofemoral pain syndrome with tendinopathy, right hip strain with subchondral cyst, left ankle fracture residuals with degenerative arthritis, maxillary sinuses, right phrenic nerve paralysis, cervical spine disability, right upper extremity radiculopathy, right ear hearing loss disability, obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities (TDIU)

How they argued it

Secondary to another service-connected condition

Exposure basis

None

Rating assigned

20%

Decision date

December 31, 2025

Citation

A25111363

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