The Board granted earlier effective dates for the award of a separate 40 percent disability rating for radiculopathy of the sciatic nerve of both lower extremities and a 70 percent disability rating for PTSD, to include anxiety, sleep impairment, depression, seclusion, anger outburst due to chronic traumatic instability status post decompression of the right shoulder.
The deciding factor: The increase in the Veteran's radiculopathy was factually ascertainable as of September 20, 2020, and he filed his claim for an increased rating within one year of that date. The criteria for a separate 40 percent disability rating were first shown to be met at the August 2021 lumbar spine examination.
- Claimed conditions
- Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), to include anxiety, sleep impairment, depression, seclusion, anger outburst due to chronic traumatic instability status post decompression of the right shoulder, Radiculopathy of the sciatic nerve of the left lower extremity, Radiculopathy of the sciatic nerve of the right lower extremity
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- February 24, 2025
- Citation
- A25016162
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 1,614 · Granted: 35% (granted or partly granted, in the indexed 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. Read the original VA decision (opens in a new tab) using citation A25016162.
What this means for you
A grant means the Board allowed the benefit or issue identified in this decision. Review the original order: other issues in the same appeal may have a different outcome, and this decision does not predict another claim.
What you can do next
Use your own notice and decision stage. A remanded issue is not a final court-appealable denial. VA review guidance and CAVC filing instructions (U.S. federal; reviewed October 7, 2026).
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 10 percent for radiculopathy of the sciatic nerve of the left lower extremity is denied. The claims for an increased rating for strain of the right hip with limitation of extension and Individual Unemployability (TDIU) are remanded.
- Whole decision: Dismissed
The Board has dismissed the Veteran's claims for increased initial disability ratings for his service-connected degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine and radiculopathy of the sciatic nerve of the right lower extremity. The claim of service connection for obstructive sleep apnea is remanded.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Board granted an effective date of July 14, 2020, for the grant of service connection for IVDS with spinal fusion and lumbar disc disease with stenosis, as well as associated radiculopathy of the sciatic and femoral nerves of the left and right lower extremities, and depressive disorder.
- Whole decision: Partly granted
The Board granted an effective date of March 4, 2019, for the grant of service connection for radiculopathy of the right lower extremity and a 20 percent disability rating for this condition. The earlier effective date claim for the left lower extremity was denied.
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