The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for lumbar stenosis, right lower extremity radiculopathy, and left lower extremity radiculopathy have been denied as there is no evidence of ankylosis or incapacitating episodes of intervertebral disc syndrome. The current ratings are found to be appropriate.
The deciding factor: The medical evidence does not support the presence of ankylosis or incapacitating episodes of intervertebral disc syndrome, which would warrant higher ratings under Diagnostic Codes 5237 and 5243.
- Claimed conditions
- Lumbar Stenosis, Right Lower Extremity Lumbar Radiculopathy (Sciatic Nerve), Left Lower Extremity Sensorimotor Radiculopathy (Sciatic Nerve)
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- September 18, 2017
- Citation
- 1740263
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 1740263.
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: Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for additional VA examinations to assess the current nature and severity of his service-connected disabilities, including residuals of CVA, back pain, and right lower extremity radiculopathy. The appeals for service connection are also remanded as there was insufficient evidence in the record regarding the relationship between the Veteran's claimed conditions and his service-connected CVA.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Board found that the Veteran's lumbar spine disability did not manifest within one year of his separation from active duty service and could not be linked to his service. The preponderance of evidence does not support a finding that the Veteran's current lumbar spine disability is related to his service.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected lumbar myositis, psychoneurosis and conversion hysteria, residuals of shrapnel wounds of the left thigh and pelvis with retained foreign bodies and scars, and residuals of shell fragment wounds of the right thigh and left leg. The veteran was also denied entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claim for an initial evaluation in excess of 10 percent for his service-connected coronary artery disease, finding that the evidence did not support a higher rating based on the severity of his condition.
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