The Board has determined that the Veteran's sciatica of the right lower extremity is proximately due to his service-connected lumbar spine disability. The Veteran's degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine warrants a 10 percent evaluation, as it does not result in limitation of forward flexion of the thoracolumbar spine to 60 degrees or less, a combined range of motion of 120 degrees or less, severe guarding severe enough to result in an abnormal gait or abnormal spinal contour such as scoliosis, reversed lordosis or abnormal kyphosis, ankylosis, or incapacitating episodes requiring bedrest and treatment by a physician. The Veteran's hypertension has been manifested by diastolic blood pressure of predominantly between 70 mm and 90 mm, and by systolic pressure predominantly in the 130s and 140s.

The deciding factor: The evidence is at least in equipoise as to whether the Veteran currently has sciatica of the right lower extremity that was caused by his service-connected lumbar spine disability. The Veteran's degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine does not result in limitation of forward flexion of the thoracolumbar spine to 60 degrees or less, a combined range of motion of 120 degrees or less, severe guarding severe enough to result in an abnormal gait or abnormal spinal contour such as scoliosis, reversed lordosis or abnormal kyphosis, ankylosis, or incapacitating episodes requiring bedrest and treatment by a physician.

Claimed conditions

Degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine, Sciatica of the right lower extremity

How they argued it

Secondary to another service-connected condition

Exposure basis

None

Rating assigned

10%

Decision date

May 18, 2016

Citation

1620224

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 1620224.