Effective dates of April 4, 2012 for service connection and initial ratings of 20% have been granted for radiculopathy of the left and right lower extremity sciatic nerve.,The Veteran's claim for higher initial ratings prior to December 11, 2019 remains pending.
The deciding factor: An increase in disability of the service-connected lumbar spine disability occurred on April 4, 2012, resulting in radiculopathy of the left and right lower extremity sciatic nerve. The effective dates were granted based on this date as it is factually ascertainable that an increase had occurred.,The initial ratings for radiculopathy of the left and right lower extremity sciatic nerve prior to December 11, 2019 remain pending.
- Claimed conditions
- Radiculopathy of the left lower extremity sciatic nerve, Radiculopathy of the right lower extremity sciatic nerve
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- July 6, 2022
- Citation
- 22038680
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 22038680.
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: Denied
The Veteran's claims for effective dates earlier than January 18, 2022, for the grant of initial 20 percent ratings for his low back disability and bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy were denied.,The Veteran's claims for effective dates earlier than January 18, 2022, for the grant of initial 20 percent ratings for his right lower extremity sciatic nerve radiculopathy and bilateral lower extremity femoral nerve radiculopathy were denied.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Board has restored the Veteran's disability ratings for radiculopathy of the right and left lower extremities, including sciatic and femoral nerves, to their original levels on July 1, 2020.
- Whole decision: Partly granted
The Board granted service connection for radiculopathy of the right upper and lower extremities but denied an increased rating for functional abdominal pain syndrome.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claims for a higher rating for degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine and associated radiculopathy due to insufficient medical evidence regarding the severity of the conditions during flare-ups and after repetitive use, discounting the ameliorative effects of medications.
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