The Veteran's lumbosacral strain with DDD was rated at 40% effective May 10, 2017. The increased rating for sciatica of the LLE and RLE from November 3, 2014 onwards is denied.,The Veteran’s claim for an increased rating in excess of 20 percent prior to May 10, 2017 was denied as his forward flexion did not meet the criteria for a higher rating.
The deciding factor: The VA examinations found that the Veteran's sciatica symptoms were consistent with mild or moderate neuralgia, which do not warrant ratings in excess of 10% and 20%, respectively.
- Claimed conditions
- lumbosacral strain with degenerative disc disease (DDD), sciatica of the left lower extremity, sciatica of the right lower extremity
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 20%
- Decision date
- November 26, 2019
- Citation
- 19189360
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 19189360.
What this means for you
A denial is a starting point, not the end of the road. You can see why this claim fell short — and, if you are still inside the one-year window, the appeal lanes that may remain open to you.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Partly granted
The Board denied a rating in excess of 40 percent for lumbosacral strain with degenerative disc disease and granted a 40 percent disability rating for right lower extremity lumbar radiculopathy of the sciatic nerve, while denying all other claims.
- Granted
The Board granted an initial rating of 20 percent for the Veteran's sciatica of the left lower extremity, finding that the evidence supports moderate incomplete paralysis.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claim for service connection for sciatica of the left lower extremity due to a need for an addendum opinion.
- Partly granted
The Board granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) but denied an increased rating in excess of 20 percent for lumbosacral strain with degenerative disc disease.
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