The Veteran's L5 radiculopathy of the left lower extremity has been rated at 60 percent since February 2014. The Board found that his symptoms do not meet or approximate complete paralysis, and thus denied an increased rating beyond this level.
The deciding factor: The evidence did not show any signs of complete paralysis (dangling and dropping of the foot) or loss of flexion of the knee in the Veteran's L5 radiculopathy of the left lower extremity.
- Claimed conditions
- L5 radiculopathy of the left lower extremity
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- July 26, 2018
- Citation
- 18121369
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 18121369.
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: Granted
The Veteran's anemia, erectile dysfunction, tachycardia, thrombocytopenia, L5 radiculopathy of the left and right lower extremities, major depressive disorder, panic disorder, somatic symptom disorder, and lumbar strain and degenerative disc disease are all found to be caused by his service-connected acute myeloid leukemia (AML).,The Veteran's fatigue is not considered a separate disability from his AML-related conditions.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's TDIU claim is being remanded for further development, including scheduling a VA examination and clarifying the Veteran's desire to continue his appeal.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Board has determined that the evidence does not clearly and unmistakably establish that the Veteran's low back disability is unrelated to his active service, thus restoring service connection for degenerative joint disease of the lumbar spine. The same reasoning applies to the restoration of service connection for osteoarthritis of the right hip, L5 radiculopathy of the right lower extremity, and L5 radiculopathy of the left lower extremity.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including a VA examination to assess his employability given his service-connected disabilities.
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