The Veteran's claims for higher ratings on his service-connected disabilities have been denied. The lumbar spine disability is rated at 20 percent, the sciatic nerve radiculopathy at 40 percent, and the femoral nerve radiculopathy at 20 percent.
The deciding factor: The evidence does not support a higher rating for any of the disabilities as they do not meet the criteria for more severe disability ratings under VA's Rating Schedule.
- Claimed conditions
- Degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine, Right lower extremity radiculopathy (sciatic nerve), Right lower extremity radiculopathy (femoral nerve)
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 70%
- Decision date
- December 19, 2024
- Citation
- 24034488
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 24034488.
What this means for you
A denial is a starting point, not the end of the road. You can see why this claim fell short — and, if you are still inside the one-year window, the appeal lanes that may remain open to you.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Partly granted
The Veteran's cervical spine disability is granted a 30 percent rating, while the lumbar and lower extremity radiculopathy claims are denied. An earlier effective date for right lower extremity radiculopathy was granted, and TDIU based on single service-connected disability is remanded.
- Granted
The Board granted service connection for a lumbar spine disability, finding that the Veteran's current degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine is related to an in-service bicycle accident.
- Denied
The Board denied higher disability ratings for the veteran's low back and lower extremity radiculopathies, pseudofolliculitis barbae, pes planus and plantar fasciitis, and left knee patellofemoral pain syndrome.
- Partly granted
The Board granted an effective date of January 21, 2022, for the award of service connection for PTSD and a rating of 10 percent for right lower extremity radiculopathy (sciatic nerve) effective December 20, 2022.
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