The Board denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his right and left lower extremity radiculopathy with sciatic nerve involvement and right and left lower extremity radiculopathy with femoral nerve involvement, finding that each condition warranted a 20 percent rating.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's symptoms were more consistent with moderate incomplete paralysis due to their being wholly sensory, not constant pain, and mild numbness. The Board found the evidence of record sufficient to determine his disability level without additional VA examinations.
- Claimed conditions
- Right lower extremity radiculopathy with sciatic nerve involvement, Right lower extremity radiculopathy with femoral nerve involvement, Left lower extremity radiculopathy with sciatic nerve involvement, Left lower extremity radiculopathy with femoral nerve involvement
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 20%
- Decision date
- April 27, 2023
- Citation
- 23024591
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 23024591.
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.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for right lower extremity radiculopathy with sciatic nerve involvement, left lower extremity radiculopathy, and lumbosacral strain are being remanded due to a duty to assist error. The Board requires new VA examinations addressing the severity of these conditions without considering the ameliorative effects of medications.
- Partly granted
The Board restored the previous ratings for degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine with intervertebral disc syndrome and left and right lower extremity radiculopathy, but denied higher ratings for other conditions.
- Granted
The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including his lumbar spine and bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy, have prevented him from obtaining and maintaining substantially gainful employment since August 19, 2008. The Board has granted a TDIU on an extraschedular basis starting from that date.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's service-connected disabilities prior to February 3, 2010 did not meet the schedular requirements for a TDIU rating. The Board has determined that there is a reasonable possibility of unemployability due to his service-connected disabilities and refers this matter to VA's Director of Compensation Service for extraschedular consideration.
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