The Veteran's thoracic spine disability was rated at 20 percent prior to February 10, 2014 and at 40 percent from February 10, 2014. The Veteran's sciatica was rated at 20 percent throughout the appeal period.
The deciding factor: The VA examinations showed limited range of motion in both periods, with no ankylosis or IVDS found.
- Claimed conditions
- Herniated nucleus pulposus, L4-L5 and L5-S1, postoperative with evidence of degenerative joint disease thoracic spine, Sciatica, right lower extremity
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 40%
- Decision date
- May 8, 2018
- Citation
- 1827915
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 1827915.
What this means for you
A denial is a starting point, not the end of the road. You can see why this claim fell short — and, if you are still inside the one-year window, the appeal lanes that may remain open to you.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Granted
The Board granted service connection for degenerative arthritis of the spine with vertebral fracture, sciatica in both lower extremities, and left leg length discrepancy, but denied it for right leg length discrepancy.
- Granted
The Veteran's service connection claims for degenerative disc disease cervical spine, degenerative disc disease thoracolumbar spine, sciatica (right and left lower extremities), and herniated cervical disc have all been granted. The conditions are found to be related to service.
- Granted
The Veteran's sciatica, right lower extremity is now rated at 40 percent effective July 7, 2021. The low back strain with degenerative disc disease remains rated at 40 percent. The rating for sciatica prior to December 2, 2019 was denied.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for cervical spine strain, sciatica of the left lower extremity, and sciatica of the right lower extremity are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations that comply with VA examination guidelines.
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