The Veteran's claim for an evaluation in excess of 40 percent for lumbosacral strain with degenerative disc disease and IVDS is denied.,The Veteran's claims for higher evaluations for right lower extremity radiculopathy involving sciatic nerve and left lower extremity radiculopathy involving sciatic nerve are granted, but only effective from May 11, 2017.,The Veteran's claims for service connection for a sleep disorder, right ankle disorder, left ankle disorder, and left foot disorder remain pending and are remanded.
The deciding factor: The evidence does not show unfavorable ankylosis of the entire thoracolumbar spine or incapacitating episodes with total duration of at least 6 weeks during a 12-month period that required bed rest prescribed by a physician and treatment by a physician.,The Veteran's symptoms more nearly approximate moderately severe incomplete paralysis involving sciatic nerve, warranting an evaluation of 40 percent.,The evidence does not show the onset of the Veteran's bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy involving femoral nerve was factually ascertainable within one year prior to May 11, 2017.
- Claimed conditions
- lumbosacral strain with degenerative disc disease and intervertebral disc syndrome (IVDS), right lower extremity radiculopathy involving sciatic nerve, left lower extremity radiculopathy involving sciatic nerve
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 40%
- Decision date
- March 6, 2024
- Citation
- 24010821
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 24010821.
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.
- Partly granted
The Board granted service connection for right hip arthritis as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected right knee chondromalacia patella with limitation of extension. The claim for lumbosacral strain with degenerative disc disease and IVDS was remanded due to a need for additional evidence.
- Dismissed
The Board has dismissed all pending appeals, including those for increased ratings and earlier effective dates, due to the appellant's authorized representative requesting withdrawals of all appeals.
- Denied
The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected lumbar myositis, psychoneurosis and conversion hysteria, residuals of shrapnel wounds of the left thigh and pelvis with retained foreign bodies and scars, and residuals of shell fragment wounds of the right thigh and left leg. The veteran was also denied entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities.
- Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claim for an initial evaluation in excess of 10 percent for his service-connected coronary artery disease, finding that the evidence did not support a higher rating based on the severity of his condition.
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