The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected lumbar spondylosis, left lower extremity sciatic nerve radiculopathy, and right leg lumbar radiculopathy have been denied. The evidence does not support the assignment of higher disability ratings under the applicable rating criteria.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's spine disability is rated based on limitation of motion, with no findings of unfavorable ankylosis or associated neurological symptoms warranting a higher rating. For his lower extremity radiculopathies, there was no evidence of additional neurological symptomatology related to the back disability and the next highest rating requires incapacitating episodes totaling six weeks in the past twelve months.
- Claimed conditions
- Degenerative Disc Disease with Degenerative Arthritis, Left Lower Extremity Sciatic Nerve Radiculopathy, Right Leg Lumbar Radiculopathy
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- January 27, 2023
- Citation
- 23005561
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 23005561.
What this means for you
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What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Granted
The Veteran's initial ratings for left lower extremity (LLE) radiculopathy, sciatic nerve and femoral nerve have been granted at a 20 percent level.
- Denied
The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is rated as noncompensable prior to August 19, 2024 and at a 20% rating since that date.,The Veteran's depressive disorder is rated as 30% prior to December 1, 2022 and at a 40% rating since that date.,The Veteran's lumbar spine disability is rated as 20% prior to December 1, 2022 and at a 40% rating since that date.,The Veteran's left lower extremity sciatic nerve radiculopathy is rated as 10% prior to August 3, 2024 and at a 20% rating since that date.,The Veteran's right lower extremity sciatic nerve radiculopathy is rated as 10% prior to August 3, 2024 and at a 20% rating since that date.,The Veteran's left lower extremity femoral nerve radiculopathy is rated as 20% since August 3, 2024.,The Veteran's right ankle disability is rated as 10% prior to August 27, 2024 and at a 20% rating since that date.
- Granted
The Veteran's service-connected conditions were granted increased ratings, and attorney fees are awarded for past-due benefits resulting from these decisions.
- Granted
The Veteran's left and right lower extremity sciatic nerve radiculopathies have been granted increased disability ratings of 40 percent each.,The Veteran's left and right lower extremity femoral nerve radiculopathies have been granted increased disability ratings of 30 percent each.
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