The Veteran was granted a separate initial 10 percent rating for left lower extremity radiculopathy of the sciatic nerve from March 7, 1998, through November 16, 2011. A 20 percent rating was assigned for right lower extremity radiculopathy (sciatic nerve) starting January 8, 2016.
The deciding factor: The evidence supports a moderate level of incomplete paralysis for the sciatic and femoral nerves, but not severe or complete paralysis.
- Claimed conditions
- Radiculopathy of the left lower extremity (sciatic nerve), Radiculopathy of the left lower extremity (femoral nerve), Radiculopathy of the right lower extremity (sciatic nerve), Radiculopathy of the right lower extremity (femoral nerve)
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 20%
- Decision date
- January 11, 2023
- Citation
- 23001830
What this means for you
A partial grant means some issues were granted while others were denied or remanded — common in multi-issue claims. Look at which issues went which way, and how each was argued.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Partly granted
The Board denied several claims for increased ratings and service connection, granted initial evaluations of 20 percent for radiculopathy in the left and right lower extremities, and dismissed a claim for service connection for erectile dysfunction.
- Dismissed
The appeal for increased ratings and earlier effective dates for various conditions, including radiculopathy of the right upper extremity, left lower extremity (femoral nerve), obstructive sleep apnea, sinusitis, allergic rhinitis, and migraine headaches, was dismissed. The Board also remanded claims for initial disability ratings.
- Granted
The Board granted earlier effective dates for the awards of service connection for bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy and a total disability rating due to individual unemployability, assigning them from August 15, 2021.
- Partly granted
The Board granted earlier effective dates for the increased 20 percent ratings for radiculopathy of the left and right lower extremities (sciatic nerve) but denied earlier effective dates for service connection for radiculopathy involving both femoral nerves, as well as for chemical pneumonia and Dietl's crisis.
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