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
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.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claims for service connection for various conditions to correct a pre-decisional duty to assist error, including verifying in-service stressors and scheduling examinations.
- Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for increased ratings and service connection, as well as remanded several new claims.
- Granted
The Board granted restoration of a separate 10 percent rating for residuals of a TBI, and restored the 10 percent disability evaluations for left and right lower extremity sciatica, as well as granting entitlement to a TDIU.
- Granted
The Board granted an initial rating of 40 percent for degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine and effective dates of May 19, 2011, for right and left lower extremity sciatica.
We are not the VA. Veterans’ Rights is an independent resource built for veterans. We are not the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, not part of the government, and not endorsed by any government agency.
This is general information, not legal advice. For advice about your own situation, talk to a VA-accredited representative — many help for free.