The Board denied earlier effective dates for the establishment of service connection for left lumbosacral radiculopathy and lower extremity sensory polyneuropathy, right lower extremity sensory polyneuropathy, left internal saphenous nerve, and right internal saphenous nerve. The effective date was assigned as March 21, 2017.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's claims were not timely appealed within the one-year appeal period following the March 2012 rating decision, and no new and material evidence was received by VA or considered within its constructive possession during that time. The effective date for the awards of service connection is assigned as the date of receipt of the reopened claims (March 21, 2017).
- Claimed conditions
- left lumbosacral radiculopathy, lower extremity sensory polyneuropathy (both legs), left internal saphenous nerve, right internal saphenous nerve
- How they argued it
- Secondary to another service-connected condition
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- July 15, 2019
- Citation
- 19154422
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 19154422.
What this means for you
A final Board denial may be appealed to the U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims, generally within 120 days of the Board mailing date. A Supplemental Claim with new and relevant evidence is a separate option. Another Higher-Level Review of the Board decision is not available. Check your own notice: this historical decision does not set your deadline.
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 service-connected radiculopathy of bilateral sciatic nerves, femoral nerve involvement, obturator nerve, external cutaneous nerve, ilio-inguinal nerve, common peroneal nerve, superficial peroneal nerve, anterior tibial nerve, interior and posterior tibial nerves, and internal saphenous nerve have been rated based on the severity of their incomplete paralysis. The Veteran's claims for increased ratings are denied.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The veteran's appeal is being remanded for a VA examination to determine the presence and extent of lumbosacral radiculopathy, as his May 2006 VA examination did not reflect this condition.
- Whole decision: Denied
The veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.
- Whole decision: Denied
The veteran's lumbar spine disability and left lumbosacral radiculopathy were evaluated, but the RO denied an increased evaluation. The current evaluations are 40 percent for the lumbar spine disability and 20 percent for the radiculopathy.
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