The Board denied an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for left and right lower extremity radiculopathy (sciatic nerve) based on the evidence showing mild incomplete paralysis.
The deciding factor: The level of impairment was found to be most analogous to mild incomplete paralysis, which supports a 10 percent rating but not higher.
- Claimed conditions
- left lower extremity radiculopathy (sciatic nerve), right lower extremity radiculopathy (sciatic nerve)
- How they argued it
- Reopened with new and material evidence
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 10%
- Decision date
- November 7, 2024
- Citation
- A24073062
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 Board granted a separate 10 percent rating for right lower extremity radiculopathy (femoral nerve) effective from August 14, 2013, but denied higher initial ratings for the sciatic nerve.
- Partly granted
The Board denied service connection for dermatochalasis, meibomian gland dysfunction, and blepharitis. The claims for lumbosacral strain, left lower extremity radiculopathy (sciatic nerve), right shoulder tendinopathy, diabetes, and prostate cancer with urinary incontinence status-post prostatectomy were remanded.
- Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's appeal for an increased initial rating for left lower extremity radiculopathy (sciatic nerve), finding that his symptoms were no worse than mild incomplete paralysis.
- Dismissed
The Board dismissed the veteran's appeals for initial compensable ratings and TDIU, but readjudicated a previously denied service connection claim for ischemic heart disease.
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