The Veteran's back disability, right and left sciatic nerve radiculopathies, and right and left femoral nerve radiculopathies have been granted initial ratings of 20 percent each from April 20, 2009. The rating for the right femoral nerve radiculopathy is limited to a 10 percent rating from April 13, 2015 to December 19, 2019 and a 20 percent rating thereafter.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's back disability was found to have forward flexion of the thoracolumbar spine at least 35 degrees during flare-ups, meeting the criteria for a 20 percent rating under the General Rating Formula. The ratings for right and left sciatic nerve radiculopathies were granted based on their respective manifestations of incomplete paralysis.
- Claimed conditions
- Degenerative Joint Disease of the Lumbar Spine (Back Disability), Right Sciatic Nerve Radiculopathy, Left Sciatic Nerve Radiculopathy, Right Femoral Nerve Radiculopathy, Left Femoral Nerve Radiculopathy
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 20%
- Decision date
- August 10, 2022
- Citation
- 22045406
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 22045406.
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 rating reduction of the Veteran's right and left sciatic nerve radiculopathy from 20 percent to 10 percent, effective June 17, 2020, was improper. The ratings are restored to 20 percent.
- Partly granted
The Board granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected disabilities, and granted increased ratings of 60 percent for intervertebral disc syndrome (IVDS) of lumbar spine, 20 percent for right femoral nerve radiculopathy, and 20 percent for left femoral nerve radiculopathy. The Board also granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability.
- Denied
The Veteran's initial ratings for right and left sciatic nerve radiculopathy from February 18, 2021, to April 28, 2021, were denied as they did not meet the criteria for a rating more than 10 percent.
- Denied
The Veteran's right sciatic nerve radiculopathy was manifest by no more than mild incomplete paralysis prior to September 16, 2022. The Veteran's right sciatic nerve radiculopathy is manifest by no more than moderate incomplete paralysis from September 16, 2022, forward.,The Veteran's left sciatic nerve radiculopathy was manifest by no more than mild incomplete paralysis prior to September 16, 2022. The Veteran's left sciatic nerve radiculopathy is manifest by no more than moderate incomplete paralysis from September 16, 2022, forward.
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