The Board denied the Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates and initial ratings higher than 20 percent for radiculopathy in his lower extremities. The Board found that an earlier effective date was not available due to lack of evidence showing radiculopathy prior to the assigned effective date, and denied the claim for a higher rating based on the current level of disability.
The deciding factor: The Board determined that there was no earlier indication of radiculopathy in the Veteran's lower extremities before the assigned effective date, and thus an earlier effective date could not be granted. The current ratings were also found to be appropriate given the Veteran's symptoms and examination findings.
- Claimed conditions
- radiculopathy, right lower extremity (sciatic nerve), radiculopathy, left lower extremity (sciatic nerve), radiculopathy, right lower extremity (femoral nerve), radiculopathy, left lower extremity (femoral nerve)
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 20%
- Decision date
- May 6, 2020
- Citation
- 20031924
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 20031924.
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.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's appeal involves multiple issues, including service connection for various conditions. The Board has remanded several of these claims due to new evidence received after the September 2023 rating decision.
- Denied
The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not preclude him from securing or following substantially gainful employment.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's claims for increased evaluations of his service-connected radiculopathy, left and right lower extremities, are being remanded due to a duty to assist error in the March 2021 VA examination.
- Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for service connection for radiculopathy of the left and right lower extremities, finding no legal merit in his arguments.
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