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 assigned
- 40%
- 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. Look up the original decision on VA.gov (opens in a new tab) using citation 20051769.
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 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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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