The Veteran's service-connected right and left sciatic radiculopathy, as well as external popliteal and femoral radiculopathies, have been granted increased ratings of 20 percent prior to March 28, 2023, and 40 percent from that date. The Veteran's right and left external popliteal radiculopathies are each rated at 30 percent effective March 28, 2023. The Veteran's right and left femoral radiculopathies remain at 20 percent.
The deciding factor: The VA examination reports provided sufficient evidence to support the increased ratings based on the severity of the Veteran's symptoms as they have progressed over time.
- Claimed conditions
- Right Sciatic Radiculopathy, Left Sciatic Radiculopathy, Right External Popliteal Radiculopathy, Left External Popliteal Radiculopathy, Right Femoral Radiculopathy, Left Femoral Radiculopathy
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 40%
- Decision date
- December 20, 2023
- Citation
- 23067057
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 23067057.
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 service connection for chronic fatigue syndrome, bilateral hearing loss, and left sciatic radiculopathy as the evidence of record did not support a finding that these conditions were incurred in or caused by active military service. The issues related to pain of lumbar spine, left foot condition (pes planus and plantar fasciitis), and right foot condition (pes planus and plantar fasciitis) are remanded for further development.
- Partly granted
The Board granted service connection for right and left knee, cervical spine, lumbar spine, and sciatic radiculopathy disabilities but denied increased ratings for the psychiatric disorder and other conditions.
- Partly granted
The Board granted a 40 percent rating for the lumbar spine disability and a 20 percent rating for left, right sciatic radiculopathy, and left, right femoral radiculopathy. The claims for increased ratings for left ankle and knee disabilities were denied.
- Granted
The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date of May 3, 2018, for service connection for right sciatic radiculopathy is granted as the date entitlement arose was May 3, 2018. The effective date is based on the date the Veteran first reported symptoms of right sciatic radiculopathy.
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