The Veteran's radiculopathy of the right lower extremity (sciatic nerve) is granted a higher rating, and his degenerative disease (arthritis) of the lumbar spine is granted an increased initial rating. The Veteran's cervical spine disability, OSA, and memory loss are denied.
The deciding factor: The evidence supports finding that the radiculopathy affects both sciatic nerve and anterior crural femoral nerve, warranting separate ratings. The lumbar spine disability meets criteria for a higher rating due to more severe symptoms post-2019. Cervical spine, OSA, and memory loss claims are denied as not related to service.
- Claimed conditions
- Radiculopathy of the Right Lower Extremity (Sciatic Nerve), Degenerative Disease (Arthritis) of the Lumbar Spine
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 40%
- Decision date
- February 3, 2021
- Citation
- 21006125
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 21006125.
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.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the claims for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability and special monthly compensation due to need for aid and attendance or being housebound, as these issues are inextricably intertwined with the TDIU claim. Additional development is needed including obtaining records-based examinations for functional limitations of service-connected psychiatric and lumbar disc disease disabilities.
- Denied
The Veteran's claim for higher ratings and earlier effective dates for various conditions related to his military service has been denied. The appeal is not about service connection, but rather the evaluation of existing disabilities.
- Denied
The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not prevent him from obtaining or maintaining any gainful employment, and he is therefore denied a TDIU.
- Denied
The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected lumbar myositis, psychoneurosis and conversion hysteria, residuals of shrapnel wounds of the left thigh and pelvis with retained foreign bodies and scars, and residuals of shell fragment wounds of the right thigh and left leg. The veteran was also denied entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities.
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