The Veteran's back disability is now rated at 40 percent, effective July 27, 2021. Ratings for his right and left lower extremity sciatic nerve radiculopathy were also granted with a 20 percent rating each, effective May 31, 2013.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's back disability was rated at 40 percent based on the August 2022 VA examination showing limited flexion to 30 degrees. The right and left lower extremity sciatic nerve radiculopathy were each granted a 20 percent rating as they are part of the same condition.
- Claimed conditions
- Back disability, Right lower extremity sciatic nerve radiculopathy, Left lower extremity sciatic nerve radiculopathy
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 40%
- Decision date
- January 31, 2023
- Citation
- 23006167
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 23006167.
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.
- Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection of a back disability, finding that there was no evidence to support a nexus between his current condition and active duty service.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claim for a back disability due to incomplete service records and failure to consider all available evidence, including in-service treatment records from F.E. Warren Air Force Base.
- Granted
The Veteran's rating for residuals status post lumbar fusion was reduced from 40 percent to 20 percent effective October 25, 2023. The reduction was granted as there was no evidence of actual improvement in the Veteran's condition prior to this date.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's claim for service connection for a back disability is being remanded due to duty-to-assist errors and the need for a VA examination.
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