The Veteran's lumbar spine disorder, right and left lower extremity radiculopathy of the sciatic and femoral nerves, chronic maxillary sinusitis, and tension/migraine headaches have been granted initial ratings. The lumbar spine disorder is rated at 40 percent since February 1, 2015.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's lumbar spine DDD was found to be severe with moderate incomplete paralysis of the sciatic nerve, warranting a 40% rating under Diagnostic Code 8520. The right and left lower extremity radiculopathy were also rated at 40 percent each.
- Claimed conditions
- Lumbar spine DDD (Degenerative Disc Disease), Spondylosis, Bilateral Sacroiliitis, Right lower extremity radiculopathy of the sciatic nerve, Right lower extremity radiculopathy of the femoral nerve, Left lower extremity radiculopathy of the sciatic nerve, Left lower extremity radiculopathy of the femoral nerve, Chronic maxillary sinusitis, Tension/migraine headaches (50% from February 1, 2015 to November 20, 2019)
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 40%
- Decision date
- January 23, 2024
- Citation
- 24003199
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 252 · Granted: 33% (granted or partly granted, in the vetted decisions on this site)
Judge attribution: 2025 complete; earlier years partial.
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 24003199.
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.
- Granted
The Board has granted a rating of 20 percent for the Veteran's right lower extremity radiculopathy of the sciatic nerve, finding that it most nearly approximated moderate incomplete paralysis.
- Denied
The Veteran's service-connected disabilities alone do not render him so helpless as to require the regular aid and attendance of another person, resulting in a denial of SMC based on need for regular aid and attendance.
- Granted
The Board has granted an initial disability rating of 40 percent for right lower extremity radiculopathy of the sciatic nerve, which is considered moderately severe incomplete paralysis.
- Granted
The Board has granted service connection for degenerative arthritis and spinal stenosis with L3-L5 disc herniation (lumbar disability), left lower extremity radiculopathy of the sciatic nerve, and right lower extremity radiculopathy of the sciatic nerve. The Board found that these conditions are related to service.
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