The Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for a 40 percent evaluation for right and left lower extremity sciatic nerve paralysis with radiculopathy, neuropathy, and loss of balance are denied. The Board found no basis to award an earlier effective date than December 3, 2017.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's claims were based on the receipt of a claim for service connection prior to December 3, 2017, which was not supported by any evidence in the record indicating entitlement to benefits before that date.
- Claimed conditions
- sciatic nerve paralysis, loss of balance
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 40%
- Decision date
- November 7, 2023
- Citation
- A23031293
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 A23031293.
What this means for you
A denial is a starting point, not the end of the road. You can see why this claim fell short — and, if you are still inside the one-year window, the appeal lanes that may remain open to you.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Granted
The Veteran's COPD is granted as service connected. The claims for bilateral hearing loss and loss of balance are remanded.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the case due to a duty to assist error, as there is insufficient evidence to determine if the Veteran's inner ear symptoms are related to service or any other condition.
- Dismissed
The Veteran's appeal concerning service connection for benign paroxysmal positional vertigo, loss of balance, and left ear trauma has been dismissed due to the Veteran's death.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claims for service connection for compressed vertebrae with residuals, bilateral hearing loss, and loss of balance to correct pre-decisional duty to assist errors.
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