The Veteran's initial rating for back disability is denied, and a higher rating of 10 percent is granted. The Veteran's LLE radiculopathy, sciatic nerve, is rated at 80 percent. A higher rating for LLE radiculopathy, femoral nerve, is denied. TDIU is also denied.
The deciding factor: The evidence does not support a higher initial rating for the back disability or LLE radiculopathy, femoral nerve, and the Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not preclude him from obtaining and maintaining substantially gainful employment.
- Claimed conditions
- intervertebral disc syndrome with degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine (back disability), radiculopathy, left lower extremity, sciatic nerve (LLE radiculopathy, sciatic nerve), radiculopathy, left lower extremity, femoral nerve (LLE radiculopathy, femoral nerve)
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 40%
- Decision date
- December 16, 2020
- Citation
- 20079618
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 20079618.
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.
- Remanded (sent back)
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- Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for radiculopathy, as there was no evidence of a current diagnosis of radiculopathy.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claims for service connection for hepatitis C and related conditions as they are inextricably intertwined.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the Veteran's claim for service connection for lumbosacral strain with degenerative disc disease, spinal stenosis, IVDS, radiculopathy, and bulging disc to obtain a more thorough medical opinion.
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