The veteran's claim for a higher disability rating for radiculopathy in both upper extremities was denied. The Board found that the veteran's condition is manifest by mild symptoms and does not meet the criteria for a rating higher than 20 percent.
The deciding factor: The Board determined that the veteran's symptoms are most analogous to mild incomplete paralysis, which corresponds to a 20 percent rating.
- Claimed conditions
- radiculopathy left upper extremity, radiculopathy right upper extremity
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- January 6, 2025
- Citation
- A25000992
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 948 · Granted: 52% (granted or partly granted, in the indexed decisions on this site)
Judge attribution: 2025 complete; earlier years partial.
This is a plain-language summary generated by AI from a public Board of Veterans’ Appeals decision. It can contain errors — always verify against the original. Read the original VA decision (opens in a new tab) using citation A25000992.
What this means for you
A final Board denial may be appealed to the U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims, generally within 120 days of the Board mailing date. A Supplemental Claim with new and relevant evidence is a separate option. Another Higher-Level Review of the Board decision is not available. Check your own notice: this historical decision does not set your deadline.
What you can do next
Use your own notice and decision stage. A remanded issue is not a final court-appealable denial. VA review guidance and CAVC filing instructions (U.S. federal; reviewed October 7, 2026).
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including degenerative lumbar arthritis and injuries to his lower extremities, result in the loss of use of both lower extremities such that he is unable to effectively ambulate independently without assistive devices. This meets the criteria for specially adapted housing eligibility.
- Whole decision: Dismissed
The Board denied an increased rating for tinnitus and dismissed the appeals related to the proposed reductions in ratings for degenerative arthritis of the thoracolumbar spine, right shoulder bicipital tendonitis and rotator cuff tendonitis, and cervical spine.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Board denied higher ratings for the Veteran's knee, cervical spine, upper extremity radiculopathy, lumbosacral strain, and left ankle disabilities but granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Board denied entitlement to higher disability ratings for chronic sinusitis, low back disability, cervical spine disability, radiculopathy right upper extremity, and thoracolumbar spine scar. The Board also remanded service connection claims for left and right knee disabilities.
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