The Board has granted service connection for a lumbar spine disability, diagnosed as sciatica, disc protrusion, facet arthropathy, and spondylotic changes with nerve root involvement, based on clear and unmistakable error in the September 2005 rating decision that denied service connection. The effective date is set at November 9, 2004.
The deciding factor: The Board found a clear and unmistakable error in the September 2005 rating decision due to its finding of lack of clinical diagnosis for sciatica and other lumbar spine disorders which were present in the Veteran's medical records before the RO.
- Claimed conditions
- sciatica, disc protrusion, bilateral facet arthropathy, spondylotic changes
- How they argued it
- Reopened with new and material evidence
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 20%
- Decision date
- August 21, 2020
- Citation
- 20055507
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 20055507.
What this means for you
A grant means the Board agreed the veteran was entitled to the benefit. Decisions like this show the kind of evidence and arguments that tend to succeed for claims like it.
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 claim for TDIU is being remanded due to a duty to assist error regarding her service-connected depression. She needs an examination to assess the impact of her depression on her ability to work.
- Granted
The Veteran's bilateral lower extremity disabilities, including sciatica, are granted on a secondary basis to his service-connected back disability. The Board found that the evidence is in equipoise as to whether the Veteran has been unable to secure or follow gainful employment due to his service-connected disabilities.
- Granted
The Veteran's back disability, including IVDS, spondylosis, degenerative disc disease, and disc protrusion, is deemed to have been caused by his service. As a result, the claim for these conditions has been granted.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has found a pre-decisional duty to assist error in failing to obtain a current medical examination for the Veteran's lumbar strain. The claim is being remanded for further evaluation and consideration of the severity of the condition, including any associated radiculopathy.
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