The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date and a higher rating for left lower extremity radiculopathy is granted, along with SMC based on the need for aid and attendance due to his service-connected disabilities.
The deciding factor: The evidence established that the Veteran had left lower extremity radiculopathy impacting the sciatic nerve since July 30, 2014, and was in need of regular aid and assistance from another person due to his service-connected low back disability and associated neurological conditions.
- Claimed conditions
- left lower extremity radiculopathy involving the sciatic nerve, service-connected low back disability
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 100%
- Decision date
- October 22, 2020
- Citation
- 20068463
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 2,569 · Granted: 26% (granted or partly granted, in the vetted decisions on this site)
Judge attribution: 2025 complete; earlier years partial.
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 20068463.
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.
- Granted
The Veteran's left and right lower extremity radiculopathy involving the sciatic nerve are granted a 20 percent rating, but no higher.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has decided to remand two issues: the claim for service connection for arrhythmia (irregular heartbeat) and the issue of a higher rating for left lower extremity radiculopathy involving the sciatic nerve. The reasons are that there were duty-to-assist errors prior to the March 2025 rating decision on appeal.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's claims for increased evaluations for left lower extremity radiculopathy involving the femoral and sciatic nerves are being remanded due to a duty to assist error.
- Granted
The Veteran's service connection claims for various conditions, including hip disabilities and radiculopathies, have been granted with effective dates of November 12, 2020.,Claims for earlier effective dates were denied for prostate cancer, reduction of the penis with erectile dysfunction (as secondary to prostate cancer), asthma, bilateral hearing loss, bilateral knees, hypertension, stable angina, and CFS.
Free starter guide for your own claim
Reading this because you were denied or under-rated? Get the plain-English next steps — your appeal options, the deadline that protects you, and how appeals like yours turn out. One email, no spam.
We will only use this to send the guide. No spam, unsubscribe any time. We never sell your information.
We are not the VA. Veterans’ Rights is an independent resource built for veterans. We are not the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, not part of the government, and not endorsed by any government agency.
This is general information, not legal advice. For advice about your own situation, talk to a VA-accredited representative — many help for free.