The Veteran's claims for effective dates earlier than November 13, 2020 for the grant of service connection for radiculopathy (sciatic nerve) and radiculopathy (femoral nerve) left lower extremities have been denied.,The reductions in ratings for radiculopathy (sciatic nerve) right lower extremity from 40 to 20 percent, effective May 5, 2021, and for radiculopathy (femoral nerve) right lower extremity from 30 to 20 percent, effective May 5, 2021, have been determined to be void ab initio.
The deciding factor: The evidence did not support the earlier effective dates as the left lower extremity radiculopathy was first diagnosed in May 2021.
- Claimed conditions
- Radiculopathy (sciatic nerve), left lower extremity, Radiculopathy (femoral nerve), left lower extremity, Radiculopathy (sciatic nerve), right lower extremity, Radiculopathy (femoral nerve), right lower extremity
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- December 20, 2022
- Citation
- A22025850
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 A22025850.
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: Partly granted
The Board granted a rating of 20 percent for the left lower extremity radiculopathy and denied an increased rating in excess of 20 percent for the right lower extremity radiculopathy.
- Whole decision: Partly granted
The Board denied an initial rating in excess of 20 percent for the Veteran's back disability and granted a 20 percent rating, but not higher, for radiculopathy (sciatic nerve), right lower extremity, and a 40 percent rating, but not higher, for radiculopathy (sciatic nerve), left lower extremity. Other claims were denied.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for thoracolumbar degenerative joint disease with muscle spasm and radiculopathy of the lower extremities due to incomplete examination results. The Veteran will need further medical evaluations.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional examinations and development to correct duty-to-assist errors in the prior rating decisions.
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