The Veteran's lumbar spine disability and radiculopathy of the right sciatic and femoral nerves are currently rated at 40 percent, 20 percent, and 20 percent respectively. The appeal is denied as there is no evidence to warrant a higher rating.
The deciding factor: The medical evidence does not support an increase in ratings for any of the conditions due to lack of incapacitating episodes or unfavorable ankylosis of the thoracolumbar spine.
- Claimed conditions
- Degenerative Joint Disease (DJD) of the lumbar spine, Radiculopathy of the right sciatic nerve, Radiculopathy of the right femoral nerve
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- August 4, 2020
- Citation
- 20051769
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. Read the original VA decision (opens in a new tab) using citation 20051769.
What this means for you
A final Board denial may be appealed to the U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims, generally within 120 days of the Board mailing date. A Supplemental Claim with new and relevant evidence is a separate option. Another Higher-Level Review of the Board decision is not available. Check your own notice: this historical decision does not set your deadline.
What you can do next
Use your own notice and decision stage. A remanded issue is not a final court-appealable denial. VA review guidance and CAVC filing instructions (U.S. federal; reviewed October 7, 2026).
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Veteran's claim for a higher initial rating for his right lower extremity radiculopathy of the sciatic nerve is granted, with an effective date of June 1, 2018.
- Whole decision: 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.
- Whole decision: Partly granted
The Board denied increased ratings for the Veteran's degenerative joint disease of the lumbar spine, right and left lower extremity radiculopathy, and depressive disorder. However, it granted a total disability rating based on unemployability (TDIU) and special monthly compensation at the housebound rate.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Board denied a disability rating in excess of 20 percent for DJD of the lumbar spine from February 25, 2016 to September 15, 2023 and denied a rating in excess of 40 percent from September 16, 2023.
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