The Veteran's claims for service connection for depression, lower extremity radiculopathy, varicocele, laceration of the scalp, right shoulder separation (postoperative), and left shoulder impingement syndrome were denied. The Veteran was granted separate ratings for RLE and LLE radiculopathy involving the sciatic nerve, but his claims for higher ratings or effective dates were not supported by evidence.

The deciding factor: The VA examiner found no nexus between the Veteran's depression and service-connected low back disability, and the Veteran did not provide sufficient medical evidence to support a secondary service connection claim. The lower extremity radiculopathy was rated based on current symptoms rather than incapacitating episodes.

Claimed conditions

{"condition_name":"Depression","service_connection_theory":"secondary"}, {"condition_name":"Low back disability (L5/S1 disc herniation with partial lumbarization of S1)","service_connection_theory":"direct"}, {"condition_name":"Right lower extremity radiculopathy involving the sciatic nerve","service_connection_theory":"direct"}, {"condition_name":"Left lower extremity radiculopathy involving the sciatic nerve","service_connection_theory":"direct"}, {"condition_name":"Varicocele, left testicle","service_connection_theory":"direct"}, {"condition_name":"Laceration of the scalp","service_connection_theory":"direct"}, {"condition_name":"Right shoulder separation (postoperative)","service_connection_theory":"direct"}, {"condition_name":"Left shoulder impingement syndrome (postoperative)","service_connection_theory":"direct"}

How they argued it

Not specified

Exposure basis

None

Rating assigned

None in this decision

Decision date

August 13, 2019

Citation

19162389

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 19162389.