The Board granted restoration of a 20 percent rating for lumbosacral spine strain from December 28, 2021, and granted service connection for erectile dysfunction (ED) as secondary to UTSRD and obstructive sleep apnea.

The deciding factor: The decision was based on the evidence showing that there had not been a sustained material improvement in the Veteran's lumbosacral spine strain at the time of the March 2022 rating decision, and resolving reasonable doubt in favor of the Veteran regarding his service connection claims for ED and OSA.

Claimed conditions

lumbosacral spine strain, tension headaches, left hip strain, cervical spine strain with intervertebral disc syndrome (IVDS), right upper extremity radiculopathy, bilateral pes planus with ganglion cyst removal, linear scar of the dorsal right foot, status post ganglion cyst removal, right lower extremity radiculopathy, sciatic nerve, right lower extremity radiculopathy, femoral nerve, left lower extremity radiculopathy, sciatic nerve, left lower extremity radiculopathy, femoral nerve, erectile dysfunction (ED), obstructive sleep apnea (OSA)

How they argued it

Direct service connection

Exposure basis

None

Rating assigned

20%

Decision date

October 6, 2025

Citation

A25085879

Want to see how appeals like this one tend to go? Appeals like mine