The Veteran's right lower extremity radiculopathy is currently rated at 10 percent, but the Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted.,The Veteran's left lower extremity radiculopathy is currently rated at 20 percent and this rating is granted. The Board also found that a higher rating is not warranted for his right lower extremity radiculopathy.,The Veteran's degenerative lumbar spine disease with spinal stenosis is remanded to determine if the Veteran has experienced functional equivalent of ankylosis, which would affect his TDIU claim.
The deciding factor: The evidence does not support a finding that the Veteran had more than mild incomplete paralysis of the sciatic nerve on the right side.,The May 2019 VA examiner indicated moderate radiculopathy in the left lower extremity, but no higher rating is warranted due to lack of worsening symptoms. The Veteran's right lower extremity radiculopathy was found to be of a mild severity.,VA medical records do not show evidence of ankylosis or functional equivalent of ankylosis at the time of the May 2019 examination, which would affect his TDIU claim.
- Claimed conditions
- Left lower extremity radiculopathy, Right lower extremity radiculopathy, Degenerative lumbar spine disease with spinal stenosis
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- December 27, 2023
- Citation
- A23037387
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 A23037387.
What this means for you
A remand is not a loss. The Board sent the case back for more development — often a new exam or missing records — before making a final decision. Many remands later end in a grant, and the decision spells out exactly what the Board wanted to see.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Granted
The Board has granted effective dates of July 10, 2024 for service connection for PTSD, lumbar strain, and left lower extremity radiculopathy.
- Denied
The Veteran's right lower extremity radiculopathy was evaluated at a 20 percent rating, and the Board found that it did not meet the criteria for a higher evaluation.
- Dismissed
The Veteran withdrew the claims for psychiatric disability and sleep apnea.,Service connection was granted for right lower extremity radiculopathy and left lower extremity radiculopathy secondary to a service-connected back disability, but denied for right wrist disability.
- Denied
The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for degenerative disc disease prior to August 1, 2025 was denied as the evidence did not show unfavorable ankylosis of the thoracolumbar spine.,The Veteran's claims for higher ratings for left and right lower extremity radiculopathy prior to March 10, 2025 were denied as there is no neurological impairment associated with these conditions.
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