The Veteran's claim for an effective date earlier than October 28, 2015 for the establishment of service connection for sciatic radiculopathy of both lower extremities was denied. The effective rating remains at 10%.
The deciding factor: It was not factually ascertainable prior to October 28, 2015 that the Veteran had sciatic radiculopathy of either lower extremity, to include as due to a service-connected disability of the lumbar spine.
- Claimed conditions
- sciatic radiculopathy
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 10%
- Decision date
- January 7, 2020
- Citation
- 20001126
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 Veteran's effective date for TDIU and DEA benefits was granted as of May 6, 2019, but no earlier. The claims for increased ratings for femoral and sciatic radiculopathy were denied.
- 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.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claim for a rating in excess of 70 percent for PTSD due to an inadequate medical opinion.
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