The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings for right lower extremity sciatica, left lower extremity sciatica, and chronic lumbar strain were denied. The claims for these conditions are based on their direct service connection without any presumption or secondary theory.
The deciding factor: The medical evidence did not show the required degree of impairment to warrant a higher rating under the applicable diagnostic codes.
- Claimed conditions
- Right lower extremity sciatica, Left lower extremity sciatica, Chronic lumbar strain
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- January 16, 2019
- Citation
- 19104035
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 2,162 · Granted: 21% (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 19104035.
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Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Dismissed
The Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for service connection for degenerative arthritis with lumbosacral strain, left lower extremity sciatica, and right lower extremity sciatica have been dismissed.,The Veteran's TDIU claim has been granted from September 16, 2011.,The Veteran's SMC based on housebound criteria has been granted effective from March 13, 2024.
- Dismissed
The Board dismissed the appeals pertaining to effective dates for increased ratings of chronic lumbar strain and LLE radiculopathy, finding that the Veteran did not properly opt into the AMA system.
- Denied
The Veteran's claims for increased ratings were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a rating higher than 20 percent for chronic lumbar strain, and denied other claims.
- Granted
The Board has granted service connection for degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine and left lower extremity sciatica, finding that there is a nexus between these conditions and in-service injuries. The Veteran's current disabilities are considered to be due to his military service.
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