The Veteran's lumbar spine disability is rated at 20 percent prior to July 12, 2023 and 40 percent thereafter. The right lower extremity radiculopathy of the sciatic nerve and femoral nerve are each rated at 20 percent. The left lower extremity radiculopathy of the sciatic nerve is rated at 20 percent effective January 9, 2017. All other issues related to knee disabilities have been denied.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's lumbar spine disability did not meet criteria for higher staged ratings or a separate rating due to IVDS episodes requiring bedrest. The right lower extremity radiculopathy of the sciatic nerve and femoral nerve were rated at 20 percent as they met criteria for moderate incomplete paralysis. The left lower extremity radiculopathy of the sciatic nerve was rated at 20 percent effective January 9, 2017 due to its severity. Other knee disabilities did not meet criteria for higher staged ratings or separate ratings.
- Claimed conditions
- lumbar spine degenerative disc disease with arthritis, right lower extremity radiculopathy of the sciatic nerve, right lower extremity radiculopathy of the femoral nerve, right lower extremity radiculopathy of the external cutaneous nerve, left lower extremity radiculopathy of the sciatic nerve, left lower extremity radiculopathy of the femoral nerve
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 40%
- Decision date
- January 24, 2024
- Citation
- 24003618
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 915 · Granted: 38% (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 24003618.
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.
- Dismissed
Your initial evaluations for left and right lower extremity radiculopathy of the sciatic nerve have been granted, but your appeal is dismissed due to the Veteran's death.
- Dismissed
The Board dismissed all issues on appeal as the May 2024 rating decision was a purely ministerial implementation of the April 2024 Board decision.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's cervical and lumbar spine disabilities, as well as their associated radiculopathy conditions, are remanded for further development. The fibromyalgia with headaches claim is also remanded due to a duty to assist error.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has determined that additional evidence is needed to determine if the Veteran's service-connected RUE brachial plexus injury and lower extremity radiculopathy of the sciatic nerve should be rated higher than their current noncompensable (0 percent) ratings.
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