The Veteran's radiculopathy of the lower extremities is granted with an effective date of October 4, 2011. A higher rating for sciatic nerve radiculopathy is granted but no higher than 40 percent. The Veteran's chronic mechanical low back syndrome is granted at a 40 percent rating from December 18, 2012 onwards and SMC benefits are granted on account of loss of use of both feet beginning October 4, 2011.
The deciding factor: The effective date for service connection was established based on the Veteran's radiculopathy being present prior to October 4, 2011. The higher rating and SMC benefits were granted as per the criteria set by VA regulations.
- Claimed conditions
- Bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy of the sciatic nerve
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- May 18, 2022
- Citation
- 22029503
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 22029503.
What this means for you
A grant means the Board allowed the benefit or issue identified in this decision. Review the original order: other issues in the same appeal may have a different outcome, and this decision does not predict another claim.
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 denied a rating in excess of 40 percent for the Veteran's low back disability and granted initial 20 percent ratings for bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy of both the sciatic and femoral nerves.
- Whole decision: Partly granted
The Board granted service connection for basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma as secondary to actinic keratosis, which is a progression of the Veteran's service-connected dermatitis. The effective date for the grant of service connection for painful scars of the face was denied earlier than October 20, 2022.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim for service connection for a back condition, as there is insufficient evidence to determine if his current lower back condition was caused or aggravated by his service-connected right knee disability. The case will be returned for further examination and opinion.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for a rating in excess of 20 percent prior to June 16, 2014, and in excess of 40 percent thereafter for degenerative disc disease (DDD) with lumbosacral strain, to include intervertebral disc syndrome (IVDS), as well as his claim for a separate compensable rating for bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy of the sciatic nerve. The Veteran's entitlement to a TDIU has also been raised and is being remanded.
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