The Veteran's back disability was granted a 20 percent rating prior to January 8, 2020. Ratings in excess of 10 percent were denied for both lower extremity femoral nerve radiculopathy.
The deciding factor: The evidence did not show that the Veteran met the criteria for higher ratings under the applicable diagnostic codes due to his back disability or bilateral femoral nerve radiculopathy.
- Claimed conditions
- Degenerative Joint and Disc Disease of the Thoracolumbar Spine, Left Lower Extremity Femoral Nerve Radiculopathy, Right Lower Extremity Femoral Nerve Radiculopathy
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- December 10, 2020
- Citation
- 20078413
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. Read the original VA decision (opens in a new tab) using citation 20078413.
What this means for you
A final Board denial may be appealed to the U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims, generally within 120 days of the Board mailing date. A Supplemental Claim with new and relevant evidence is a separate option. Another Higher-Level Review of the Board decision is not available. Check your own notice: this historical decision does not set your deadline.
What you can do next
Use your own notice and decision stage. A remanded issue is not a final court-appealable denial. VA review guidance and CAVC filing instructions (U.S. federal; reviewed October 7, 2026).
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Veteran's initial ratings for left lower extremity (LLE) radiculopathy, sciatic nerve and femoral nerve have been granted at a 20 percent level.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is rated as noncompensable prior to August 19, 2024 and at a 20% rating since that date.,The Veteran's depressive disorder is rated as 30% prior to December 1, 2022 and at a 40% rating since that date.,The Veteran's lumbar spine disability is rated as 20% prior to December 1, 2022 and at a 40% rating since that date.,The Veteran's left lower extremity sciatic nerve radiculopathy is rated as 10% prior to August 3, 2024 and at a 20% rating since that date.,The Veteran's right lower extremity sciatic nerve radiculopathy is rated as 10% prior to August 3, 2024 and at a 20% rating since that date.,The Veteran's left lower extremity femoral nerve radiculopathy is rated as 20% since August 3, 2024.,The Veteran's right ankle disability is rated as 10% prior to August 27, 2024 and at a 20% rating since that date.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Veteran's left and right lower extremity sciatic nerve radiculopathies have been granted increased disability ratings of 40 percent each.,The Veteran's left and right lower extremity femoral nerve radiculopathies have been granted increased disability ratings of 30 percent each.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Board granted an effective date of October 21, 2021 for service connection for IBS and GERD, cervical strain, left upper extremity radiculopathy, right wrist sprain, lumbosacral strain, right and left lower extremity sciatic and femoral radiculopathies, tinnitus, and PTSD.
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