The Veteran's sciatica of the lower extremities, bilaterally, is now rated at 40 percent as of May 4, 2010. Prior to this date, his disability was rated at 20 percent for each leg.
The deciding factor: The VA examination conducted in May 2010 demonstrated significant impairment with decreased muscle strength and resulting weakness that affected the Veteran's ability to walk without assistance, meeting the criteria for a 40 percent rating under Diagnostic Code 8520.
- Claimed conditions
- sciatica of the lower extremities
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 40%
- Decision date
- September 6, 2011
- Citation
- 1132741
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 1132741.
What this means for you
A grant means the Board agreed the veteran was entitled to the benefit. Decisions like this show the kind of evidence and arguments that tend to succeed for claims like it.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Granted
The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's back disability and sciatica of the lower extremities, but denied service connection for his left hip disability.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the claim due to incomplete service records and a need for clarification regarding the nature of the appellant's service in Honduras. The appellant must provide additional information or evidence, and VA will attempt to obtain any necessary records.
- Granted
The Veteran's lower extremity sciatica is found to be secondary to his service-connected thoracolumbar spine disability. The Board finds that the Veteran has a current bilateral shoulder disability and grants service connection for it.
- Denied
The Veteran's appeal regarding service connection for sciatica of the lower extremities was withdrawn. The Board denied an increased rating for chronic lumbar sprain, finding that it did not meet the criteria for a higher than 10 percent disability rating.
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