The Veteran seeks a higher rating for radiculopathy of the right lower extremity with involvement of the sciatic nerve prior to February 19, 2015. The current 20 percent rating is denied.,The Veteran also seeks increased ratings for her low back condition during two specific periods: prior to February 19, 2013 and from November 15, 2013 to February 9, 2015. These issues are remanded for further development.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's radiculopathy was evaluated as moderate in severity prior to February 19, 2015 and the current 20 percent rating is not supported by the evidence.
- Claimed conditions
- Radiculopathy of the right lower extremity with involvement of the sciatic nerve
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 20%
- Decision date
- September 12, 2019
- Citation
- 19170552
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 19170552.
What this means for you
A remand is not a loss. The Board sent the case back for more development — often a new exam or missing records — before making a final decision. Many remands later end in a grant, and the decision spells out exactly what the Board wanted to see.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Granted
The Veteran's radiculopathy of the right and left lower extremities with involvement of the sciatic nerves has been granted a disability rating of 20 percent, effective January 19, 2017.,A separate 20 percent rating for radiculopathy of the bilateral lower extremities with involvement of the femoral nerves was also granted.
- Denied
The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected lumbar myositis, psychoneurosis and conversion hysteria, residuals of shrapnel wounds of the left thigh and pelvis with retained foreign bodies and scars, and residuals of shell fragment wounds of the right thigh and left leg. The veteran was also denied entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities.
- Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claim for an initial evaluation in excess of 10 percent for his service-connected coronary artery disease, finding that the evidence did not support a higher rating based on the severity of his condition.
- Denied
The Veteran's service-connected musculoligamentous strain, right knee, is currently rated at 10 percent and the Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted.
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