The Veteran's lumbar spine disability has been rated at 20 percent since April 7, 2015. The right and left leg radiculopathies have each been rated at 10 percent since August 5, 2011.
The deciding factor: The VA examinations consistently showed incomplete paralysis of the sciatic nerve in both legs, with the right leg having more severe symptoms than the left.
- Claimed conditions
- Lumbar Degenerative Joint Disease with Intervertebral Disc Syndrome and Associated Sciatica, Right Lower Extremity Radiculopathy involving the Sciatic Nerve, Left Lower Extremity Radiculopathy involving the Sciatic Nerve, Right Lower Extremity Radiculopathy involving the Femoral Nerve
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 20%
- Decision date
- February 1, 2018
- Citation
- 1806616
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 1806616.
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 Veteran's acquired psychiatric condition, including PTSD, is granted a 70 percent rating for the entire appeal period. Service connection for low back disability and left lower extremity radiculopathy involving the sciatic nerve are also granted. TDIU is granted.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has determined that additional examinations and records are needed to properly assess the Veteran's service-connected lumbar spine disability and bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy, as well as his entitlement to SMC at the housebound rate. The issues of increased ratings for these conditions and SMC will be remanded.
- 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.
- 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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