The Veteran's back disability was granted a 40 percent rating effective August 28, 2023.,A separate 20 percent rating for right lower extremity radiculopathy of the sciatic nerve is also granted, effective from January 6, 2020.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's back disability was characterized by painful motion and limitation of forward flexion during flare-ups. The VA examiner noted ankylosis of the spine but no muscle spasm or guarding severe enough to result in abnormal gait or spinal contour.,For her sciatic nerve radiculopathy, the evidence showed moderate symptoms including difficulties sitting for more than 15 minutes and pain radiating from the back to the thigh. The VA examiner noted that these symptoms were factually ascertainable as early as January 6, 2020.
- Claimed conditions
- Thoracolumbar Scoliosis with Degenerative Changes, Sciatic Nerve, Right Lower Extremity Radiculopathy
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 40%
- Decision date
- April 11, 2024
- Citation
- 24015641
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 24015641.
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
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