The veteran's low back disability is rated at 20 percent, but he is also entitled to a separate 10 percent rating for associated left sciatic nerve radiculopathy.
The deciding factor: The VA examiner found the veteran had osteoarthritis in his low back with mild wedging of L2 and L4 vertebrae, resulting in painful motion including on repetitive use. The combined range of motion was not greater than 120 degrees, which does not meet the criteria for a higher rating under the General Rating Formula for Diseases and Injuries of the Spine.
- Claimed conditions
- Osteoarthritis of the low back, Incomplete paralysis of the left sciatic nerve
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 20%
- Decision date
- December 31, 2008
- Citation
- 0845033
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. Look up the original decision on VA.gov (opens in a new tab) using citation 0845033.
What this means for you
A partial grant means some issues were granted while others were denied or remanded — common in multi-issue claims. Look at which issues went which way, and how each was argued.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Partly granted
The Board granted an initial 40 percent rating for incomplete paralysis of the left sciatic nerve and denied a higher rating, while remanding service connection for radiculopathy of the right lower extremity.
- Granted
The Veteran's radiculopathy of the right and left sciatic nerves is rated at 40 percent since October 28, 2019.
- Denied
The Board found that the Veteran's osteoarthritis of the bilateral knees and low back did not manifest during service or within one year of separation, and is not shown to be causally related to an in-service event, injury or disease. The preponderance of evidence supports a finding that there was no in-service incurrence or aggravation of a disease or injury.
- Denied
The Veteran's claim for service connection for osteoarthritis of the low back was denied as there is no evidence showing it was incurred during or aggravated by his active duty service.,The Veteran's claim to reopen his claim of service connection for osteoarthritis of both hips, status post total arthroplasty in the right hip, was also denied due to lack of new and material evidence.
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