The Veteran's lumbosacral strain is currently rated at 20 percent, and the Board finds no basis to grant a higher rating.,PTSD was initially rated at 30 percent prior to September 15, 2017, and at 70 percent thereafter. The Board finds no basis for an increased rating.,The Veteran's claim for neuropathy sciatic nerve, right lower extremity (RLE) secondary to lumbosacral strain was granted with an effective date of July 24, 2012.,The Veteran's claim for neuropathy sciatic nerve, left lower extremity (LLE) secondary to lumbosacral strain did not meet the criteria for an earlier effective date.
The deciding factor: The evidence does not support a higher rating for lumbosacral strain as it does not result in favorable or unfavorable ankylosis of the thoracolumbar spine, nor does it show significant loss of range of motion due to pain or weakness.,PTSD did not meet criteria for increased ratings as there was no evidence of occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in work, family relations, judgment, thinking, or mood beyond what is already reflected by the current 30 percent and 70 percent ratings.,The Veteran's claim for neuropathy sciatic nerve, right lower extremity (RLE) secondary to lumbosacral strain was granted as it met the criteria of having a service-connected disability that caused or aggravated a non-service-connected condition.,The earlier effective date for neuropathy sciatic nerve, left lower extremity (LLE) did not meet the criteria due to lack of evidence showing aggravation by the service-connected lumbosacral strain.
- Claimed conditions
- lumbosacral strain, neuropathy sciatic nerve, right lower extremity (RLE), neuropathy sciatic nerve, left lower extremity (LLE)
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- January 8, 2019
- Citation
- 19101243
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 2,062 · Granted: 34% (granted or partly granted, in the vetted decisions on this site)
Judge attribution: 2025 complete; earlier years partial.
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 19101243.
What this means for you
A remand is not a loss. The Board sent the case back for more development — often a new exam or missing records — before making a final decision. Many remands later end in a grant, and the decision spells out exactly what the Board wanted to see.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Granted
The Veteran's service connection claims for lumbosacral strain, asthma, melasma and hydradenitis, hypertension, an acquired psychiatric disorder (claimed as depression, anxiety, and stress), left shoulder disorder, right shoulder disorder, left knee disorder, a left foot disorder, and IBS have been granted. The remaining issues are remanded.
- Dismissed
The Veteran withdrew their appeal for service connection of a lumbosacral strain, resulting in the dismissal of this issue.
- Granted
The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's lumbosacral strain with degenerative arthritis, finding that it is related to his in-service injury. The claimant did not contest this decision.
- Granted
The Board has granted service connection for a lumbar spine disability, including degenerative arthritis and IVDS. The decision is based on the Veteran's in-service injury during active duty and his continuous symptoms since then.
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