The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings and earlier effective dates, finding that the evidence did not support a higher rating or an earlier effective date.
The deciding factor: The medical evidence showed mild incomplete paralysis of the sciatic nerve without signs of moderate or severe radiculopathy. The Veteran was not found to be unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation prior to June 26, 2012.
- Claimed conditions
- Right Lower Extremity (RLE) radiculopathy, Left Lower Extremity (LLE) radiculopathy
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- October 22, 2024
- Citation
- A24067749
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.
- Denied
The Board denied an initial rating in excess of 20 percent for right lower extremity radiculopathy from January 30, 2013, and denied an initial rating in excess of 10 percent prior to January 30, 2013, and in excess of 20 percent from January 30, 2013, for left lower extremity radiculopathy.
- Partly granted
The Board denied increased ratings for the Veteran's degenerative joint disease of the lumbar spine, right and left lower extremity radiculopathy, and depressive disorder. However, it granted a total disability rating based on unemployability (TDIU) and special monthly compensation at the housebound rate.
- Denied
The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for right and left lower extremity radiculopathy and lumbar spine degenerative disc disease, finding that the evidence did not support a higher rating.
- Granted
The Board granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, effective from the date of the February 2025 rating decision.
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