The Board has granted the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for radiculopathy of the upper and lower extremities, with a rating of 50 percent for right upper extremity radiculopathy and 40 percent for left upper extremity, left lower extremity (sciatic nerve), and right lower extremity (sciatic nerve) radiculopathy.
The deciding factor: The Board found that the Veteran's radiculopathy was primarily manifested by severe constant pain, paresthesias and/or dysesthesias, and numbness, which is most analogous to moderately severe incomplete paralysis of the lower extremities. The evidence did not support a finding of complete paralysis or marked muscular atrophy.
- Claimed conditions
- Radiculopathy, left upper extremity, Radiculopathy, right upper extremity, Radiculopathy, left lower extremity (sciatic nerve), Radiculopathy, right lower extremity (sciatic nerve)
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 50%
- Decision date
- August 2, 2024
- Citation
- A24043108
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 A24043108.
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.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has found that remand is needed for additional development, including obtaining outstanding treatment records and scheduling a new examination to evaluate the Veteran's cervical spine disability and radiculopathy.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the case for further development and an addendum medical opinion regarding the Veteran's service-connected neuropathy of the bilateral lower extremities, sciatic nerve and femoral nerve, and his non-service-connected radiculopathy of the bilateral lower extremities.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's service connected thoracolumbar spine degenerative disc disease, cervical spine degenerative disc disease, radiculopathy of the right upper and lower extremities, and radiculopathy of the left upper and lower extremities are all remanded for further development.
- Granted
The Board granted a rating of 20 percent for both the right and left lower extremity radiculopathy, sciatic nerve, as the Veteran's conditions were found to be moderate incomplete paralysis.
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