The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for right and left lower extremity radiculopathy, finding that the evidence did not support a rating higher than 10 percent.
The deciding factor: The VA examiners found mild incomplete paralysis of the sciatic nerves in both legs, which does not meet the criteria for a higher rating under Diagnostic Code 8520.
- Claimed conditions
- right lower extremity radiculopathy affecting the sciatic nerve, left lower extremity radiculopathy affecting the sciatic nerve
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- February 25, 2025
- Citation
- 25002732
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 3,319 · Granted: 25% (granted or partly granted, in the vetted decisions on this site)
Judge attribution: 2025 complete; earlier years partial.
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 25002732.
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.
- Granted
The Board has granted service connection for lumbosacral strain with degenerative disc disease and right lower extremity radiculopathy affecting the sciatic nerve, effective January 12, 2024. Attorney fees are eligible based on past due benefits awarded in this decision.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has determined that additional development is needed for the claims of increased disability ratings and TDIU, including consideration of new private medical records.
- Denied
The Board denied increased ratings for the Veteran's left and right lower extremity radiculopathy affecting the sciatic nerve, finding that evaluations in excess of 10 percent were not warranted.
- Granted
The Board granted an earlier effective date of August 23, 2016, for the award of service connection and a separate 10 percent rating for right and left lower extremity radiculopathy affecting the sciatic nerves.
Free starter guide for your own claim
Reading this because you were denied or under-rated? Get the plain-English next steps — your appeal options, the deadline that protects you, and how appeals like yours turn out. One email, no spam.
We will only use this to send the guide. No spam, unsubscribe any time. We never sell your information.
We are not the VA. Veterans’ Rights is an independent resource built for veterans. We are not the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, not part of the government, and not endorsed by any government agency.
This is general information, not legal advice. For advice about your own situation, talk to a VA-accredited representative — many help for free.