The Veteran's service connection claims for degenerative disc disease of the cervical spine with scoliosis, degenerative disc disease of the thoracolumbar spine with spinal stenosis, and right leg sciatica have been granted. The claim for left leg disability is being remanded.
The deciding factor: The VA examiner found no evidence of radiculopathy in the Veteran's left lower extremity during the May 2018 examination, but noted that the Veteran reported intermittent pain radiating down his left thigh from time to time. The Board finds this insufficient to establish service connection for a left leg disability.
- Claimed conditions
- Degenerative disc disease of the cervical spine with scoliosis, Degenerative disc disease of the thoracolumbar spine with spinal stenosis, Right leg sciatica
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- June 4, 2019
- Citation
- 19143047
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 2,480 · Granted: 26% (granted or partly granted, in the indexed 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. Read the original VA decision (opens in a new tab) using citation 19143047.
What this means for you
A grant means the Board allowed the benefit or issue identified in this decision. Review the original order: other issues in the same appeal may have a different outcome, and this decision does not predict another claim.
What you can do next
Use your own notice and decision stage. A remanded issue is not a final court-appealable denial. VA review guidance and CAVC filing instructions (U.S. federal; reviewed October 7, 2026).
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Whole decision: Partly granted
The Veteran's back disability has been productive of functional loss that more closely approximated at least favorable ankylosis of the thoracolumbar spine, warranting a rating of at least 40 percent from September 30, 2009.
- Whole decision: Partly granted
The Board granted a 50 percent rating for the service-connected migraine headache associated with obstructive sleep apnea, but denied an increased rating for degenerative disc disease of the thoracolumbar spine and an earlier effective date for Dependents' Educational Assistance.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for low back disability and right leg sciatica, finding that there is no evidence to support a causal relationship between his service-connected disabilities and these conditions.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the case for a VA examination and medical opinion to determine if the Veteran's low back disability and right leg sciatica are related to his service or service-connected conditions.
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