The Veteran's right leg lumbar radiculopathy is currently rated at 20 percent. The Board has determined that the disability warrants a higher rating of 40 percent, but no higher.
The deciding factor: The VA examiner found the Veteran’s sciatic nerve caused moderately severe incomplete paralysis, fitting within the criteria for a 40 percent rating under Diagnostic Code 8520.
- Claimed conditions
- right leg lumbar radiculopathy
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 40%
- Decision date
- October 16, 2019
- Citation
- 19178835
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.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claims for an initial rating greater than 20 percent for lumbar strain and degenerative disc disease (DDD) prior to February 28, 2018, and greater than 40 percent thereafter, and for an initial rating greater than 10 percent for right leg lumbar radiculopathy.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claims for increased ratings and TDIU due to the need for contemporaneous examinations to determine the current severity of the Veteran's service-connected disabilities.
- Granted
The Board granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, effective from the date of the February 2025 rating decision.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claim for a medical examination to determine if the Veteran's current neck strain is related to his in-service activities.
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