The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 50 percent, which does not meet the criteria for a higher rating.,The Veteran’s left lower extremity radiculopathy of the sciatic nerve is currently rated at 10 percent. The Board finds that this rating adequately reflects his symptoms and does not warrant an increased rating.,The Veteran's left lower extremity radiculopathy of the femoral nerve is also rated at 10 percent, which is considered adequate based on the evidence provided.
The deciding factor: The Veteran’s PTSD was found to result in occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity, but not deficiencies in most areas such as work, school, family relations, judgment, thinking or mood. The symptoms described do not meet the criteria for a higher rating of 70 percent.,The Veteran's left lower extremity radiculopathy of the sciatic nerve was found to have moderate incomplete paralysis, with normal reflexes and sensory findings. These findings are consistent with the current 10 percent rating assigned.,For the left lower extremity radiculopathy of the femoral nerve, the evidence showed no symptoms that would warrant a higher than 10 percent rating.
- Claimed conditions
- Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), Left lower extremity radiculopathy of the sciatic nerve, Left lower extremity radiculopathy of the femoral nerve
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 50%
- Decision date
- January 7, 2020
- Citation
- 20001070
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 1,911 · Granted: 10% (granted or partly granted, in the vetted decisions on this site)
Judge attribution: 2025 complete; earlier years partial.
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 20001070.
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Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Granted
The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD is granted as the evidence shows a current diagnosis of PTSD, an in-service stressor, and a medical link between the two.
- Denied
The Veteran's PTSD has been rated at 50% since March 23, 2004. The Board found that a higher rating is not warranted prior to February 15, 2005 due to the severity of his symptoms and their impact on his social and occupational functioning.
- Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD and any acquired psychiatric disorder, finding that there was no evidence to support a link between his current mental health conditions and his military service.
- Granted
The Veteran's PTSD resulted in occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity, warranting a 70% disability rating. The Veteran also met the criteria for a TDIU due to his service-connected disabilities preventing him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation.
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