The Veteran's claims for an effective date prior to July 31, 2012 for service connection for sciatica of the left lower extremity and residual lumbar scar associated with intervertebral disc syndrome with degenerative arthritis and lumbosacral strain were denied as there was no communication prior to that date that could be reasonably construed as a claim.,The Veteran's claims for an effective date prior to July 31, 2012 for service connection for sciatica of the left lower extremity and residual lumbar scar associated with intervertebral disc syndrome with degenerative arthritis and lumbosacral strain were denied as there was no communication prior to that date that could be reasonably construed as a claim.
The deciding factor: There is no communication prior to July 31, 2012, that could be reasonably construed as a claim of entitlement to benefits.
- Claimed conditions
- sciatica of the left lower extremity, residual lumbar scar associated with intervertebral disc syndrome with degenerative arthritis and lumbosacral strain
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- November 10, 2020
- Citation
- 20072464
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 Board granted an initial rating of 20 percent for the Veteran's sciatica of the left lower extremity, finding that the evidence supports moderate incomplete paralysis.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claim for service connection for sciatica of the left lower extremity due to a need for an addendum opinion.
- Partly granted
The Board granted a disability rating of 40 percent for the right lower extremity sciatica and denied higher ratings for both left and right lower extremities, as well as service connection for incomplete paralysis of the right external popliteal nerve and TDIU.
- Granted
The Board granted an effective date of January 22, 2021, for the assignment of a 40 percent evaluation for service-connected lumbosacral strain with degenerative arthritis and for the award of service connection sciatica of the left lower extremity.
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