The Board has granted the Veteran's claims for effective dates of October 31, 2003 for a 20 percent rating for his service-connected lumbar spine disability and right leg sciatic neuropathy. The earlier effective date is based on the fact that it is not factually ascertainable that an increase in severity occurred during the appeal period.
The deciding factor: The Board found that there was no factual evidence to show a change in the severity of the Veteran's disabilities over the course of the appeal period, and thus granted the earlier effective date based on the date of receipt of the claim for service connection.
- Claimed conditions
- Degenerative disc disease with degenerative joint disease, stenosis, and intervertebral disc syndrome of the lumbar spine, Sciatic neuropathy of the right lower extremity
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 20%
- Decision date
- March 17, 2021
- Citation
- 21015377
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 21015377.
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.
- Granted
The Board granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability as a result of service-connected disabilities from September 7, 2017.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's combined schedular rating for his service-connected disabilities was reduced from 100% to 90%. The Board notes that the reduction may not be proper due to worsening of his sciatic neuropathy. A new examination is required to assess the severity and permanency of his service-connected disabilities, including sciatic neuropathy.
- Granted
The Veteran's claims for higher initial ratings for his service-connected peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities have been granted, with specific ratings assigned. The Veteran is still seeking higher initial ratings for sciatic neuropathy of the right and left lower extremities.
- Denied
The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for peripheral neuropathy and sciatic neuropathy of the left and right lower extremities have been denied.,The Board found that the evidence did not show symptoms more nearly approximating a higher rating than 10 percent for these conditions.
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