The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and effective dates have been denied. The current 40 percent rating for postoperative degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine was granted on April 12, 2017.,The current 20 percent ratings for radiculopathy of the left sciatic nerve, left femoral nerve, and right lower extremity (RLE) were also granted on April 12, 2017.
The deciding factor: The medical evidence did not support a higher rating for any of the conditions.,The effective dates were assigned based on the date entitlement was shown to warrant an increase in ratings.
- Claimed conditions
- Postoperative degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine, Radiculopathy of the left sciatic nerve, Radiculopathy of the left femoral nerve, Radiculopathy of the right lower extremity (RLE)
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 40%
- Decision date
- June 3, 2020
- Citation
- 20037830
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 20037830.
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.
- Granted
The Board has granted an initial disability rating of 20 percent for radiculopathy of the right lower extremity and left lower extremity, finding moderate incomplete paralysis of the sciatic nerves.
- Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his back disability and radiculopathy of both lower extremities, finding that the evidence did not support a higher rating based on current functional impairment or incapacitating episodes.
- Granted
The Board granted an effective date of June 29, 2023 for the grant of service connection for degenerative arthritis with intervertebral disc syndrome and radiculopathy of the left sciatic nerve.
- Partly granted
The Board denied earlier effective dates for the service connection of radiculopathy of the right and left femoral nerves, but granted an effective date of April 30, 2021, for a 70 percent rating for generalized anxiety disorder with alcohol use disorder, moderate.
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