The Veteran's left lower extremity radiculopathy of the sciatic nerve is rated at 20 percent prior to April 20, 2017 and a rating in excess of 40 percent since that date is denied. The Veteran's degenerative arthritis of the spine is also remanded for further examination.
The deciding factor: The VA examiner found moderate radiculopathy prior to April 20, 2017 and moderately severe radiculopathy after that date based on clinical findings.
- Claimed conditions
- left lower extremity radiculopathy of the sciatic nerve, degenerative arthritis of the spine
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 20%
- Decision date
- December 6, 2018
- Citation
- 18155928
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 18155928.
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.
- Partly granted
The Board granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea and voiding dysfunction as residuals of a stroke, and granted initial ratings for the back disability, left shoulder disability, and left lower extremity radiculopathy. The claims for earlier effective dates for hypertension and stroke were denied.
- Partly granted
The Board denied earlier effective dates for service connection and denied increased ratings, but granted service connection with an effective date of January 16, 2018, and a TDIU beginning April 18, 2017.
- Partly granted
The Board restored the 60% rating for degenerative arthritis and IVDS of the lumbar spine, status post fusion, with stenosis and spondylolisthesis. The claims for increased ratings for bilateral lower extremity radiculopathies were denied.
- Dismissed
The appeals for service connection for a cervical spine disorder, lumbar spinal stenosis, and psychiatric disorders were dismissed due to untimely notice of disagreement. The proposed rating reductions for lower extremity radiculopathy were also dismissed.
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