The Veteran's low back disability is currently rated at 40 percent, but the Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted due to lack of evidence of unfavorable ankylosis.,The Veteran's left lower extremity sciatic and femoral nerve radiculopathy are both currently rated at 20 percent. The Board finds no basis for a higher rating as there is no evidence of moderately severe or more severe incomplete paralysis.
The deciding factor: The medical evidence does not support the Veteran's claim that his low back disability warrants a higher than 40 percent evaluation, as ankylosis has not been demonstrated.,There is insufficient evidence to support a finding of moderate incomplete paralysis for either the left or right lower extremity radiculopathy conditions.
- Claimed conditions
- Low Back Disability, Left Lower Extremity Sciatic Nerve Radiculopathy, Left Lower Extremity Femoral Nerve Radiculopathy, Right Lower Extremity Sciatic Nerve Radiculopathy, Right Lower Extremity Femoral Nerve Radiculopathy
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- June 18, 2020
- Citation
- 20041681
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 20041681.
What this means for you
A remand is not a loss. The Board sent the case back for more development — often a new exam or missing records — before making a final decision. Many remands later end in a grant, and the decision spells out exactly what the Board wanted to see.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his low back, left knee, and right knee disabilities due to inadequate VA examinations. The AOJ is instructed to obtain private treatment records from Mays & Schnapp Pain Management and schedule the Veteran for additional medical examinations.
- Granted
The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's low back disability, including diagnosed degenerative arthritis with DDD other than intervertebral disc syndrome and spinal stenosis status post L3, L4, and L5 laminectomy. The decision is based on the Veteran's in-service injury and his ongoing symptoms since then.
- Granted
The Veteran's right shoulder disability, low back condition, bilateral knee disabilities, and left shoulder strain have been granted service connection. The Veteran's low back condition has been increased to a 40 percent evaluation, while the bilateral knee conditions remain at their current 10 percent evaluations.
- Denied
The Board has denied service connection for the claimed conditions as there is no persuasive evidence of current diagnoses or in-service incurrence or aggravation.
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