The Veteran's back disability and bilateral sciatic nerve radiculopathies are rated at a 40 percent rating since August 29, 2007. The right femoral nerve radiculopathy is rated at 20 percent from July 13, 2015 to July 8, 2019 and at 20 percent thereafter. The left femoral nerve radiculopathy is rated at 20 percent since July 8, 2019.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's back disability was found to have forward flexion of the thoracolumbar spine less than 30 degrees and no favorable ankylosis, warranting a 40 percent rating under the General Rating Formula for Diseases or Injuries of the Spine (General Rating Formula). The right sciatic nerve radiculopathy was rated at 20 percent since July 13, 2015 to July 8, 2019 and at 20 percent thereafter. The left femoral nerve radiculopathy is rated at 20 percent since July 8, 2019.
- Claimed conditions
- lumbar degenerative disc disease (back disability), left sciatic nerve radiculopathy, right sciatic nerve radiculopathy, left femoral nerve radiculopathy, right femoral nerve radiculopathy
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 40%
- Decision date
- October 23, 2020
- Citation
- 20068862
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 1,772 · Granted: 37% (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 20068862.
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.
- Denied
The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not meet the requirements for Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC) under 38 U.S.C. § 1318 because he was not continuously rated totally disabled for a period of 10 or more years immediately preceding his death.
- Dismissed
The Veteran's appeal of proposed reductions in ratings for his service-connected back disability and right sciatic nerve radiculopathy is dismissed. The claim of entitlement to an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for left sciatic nerve radiculopathy is remanded.
- Granted
The Veteran's service-connected disabilities require regular aid and attendance from another person, resulting in the grant of special monthly compensation based on aid and attendance. The issue of SMC at the housebound rate is dismissed as it is a lesser benefit than SMC based on aid and attendance.
- Denied
The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for left and right sciatic nerve radiculopathy were denied as the evidence did not warrant an initial rating in excess of 10 percent.
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