The Veteran's right lower extremity sciatic radiculopathy is rated at 20 percent prior to March 20, 2017 and 10 percent since then. The left lower extremity sciatic radiculopathy remains at a 10 percent rating throughout the appeal period. A separate 10 percent rating for post-operative tear of the right wrist with sprain and tendonitis is granted effective March 20, 2017.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's lower extremity sciatic radiculopathy was found to be moderate prior to March 20, 2017 and mild since then. The post-operative tear of the right wrist with sprain and tendonitis was rated at 10 percent effective March 20, 2017.
- Claimed conditions
- Sciatic radiculopathy, Degenerative disc disease, lumbar spine
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 20%
- Decision date
- October 10, 2019
- Citation
- 19177817
What this means for you
A grant means the Board agreed the veteran was entitled to the benefit. Decisions like this show the kind of evidence and arguments that tend to succeed for claims like it.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Denied
The appeal for an increased rating for left hip, the claims for entitlement to an earlier effective date and an increased rating for right knee strain, and the appeal for an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for left shoulder strain were dismissed. The claim for a 40 percent rating from June 24, 2021 for degenerative disc disease was granted.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claim for a lumbar spine disability as secondary to a cervical spine disability due to an inadequate medical opinion.
- Partly granted
The Board granted a higher initial rating of 40 percent for degenerative arthritis, degenerative disc disease, lumbosacral strain, and scoliosis, but remanded the other issues.
- Granted
The veteran was granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to his service-connected disabilities.
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