The Veteran's low back disability and sciatic radiculopathy of the lower extremities are not rated higher than their current levels.
The deciding factor: The VA examinations consistently showed significant limitation of motion, pain, and weakness in the lumbar spine and lower extremities, but no evidence of unfavorable ankylosis or more severe neurological deficits that would warrant a higher rating.
- Claimed conditions
- Low back injury with mechanical low back pain, Degenerative disc disease (DDD) of the lumbar spine at L3-4 and L4-5, Left lower extremity sciatic radiculopathy, Right lower extremity sciatic radiculopathy
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 40%
- Decision date
- November 12, 2020
- Citation
- 20072836
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.
- Denied
The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for left and right lower extremity sciatic radiculopathy and a separate evaluation for left knee instability, finding that the evidence did not support higher evaluations.
- Partly granted
The Board denied an initial compensable rating for erectile dysfunction and remanded the claims for a higher rating for spondylolisthesis with degenerative disc disease, left and right lower extremity sciatic radiculopathy, and service connection for migraines.
- Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for various disabilities, including a lumbar spine disability and radiculopathies of both lower extremities, as well as left inguinal hernia and its scar.
- Partly granted
The Board granted an earlier effective date of December 12, 2023 for service connection for residuals of a left tibia fracture and denied increased ratings for various conditions.
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