The Board granted separate ratings of 20 percent for the Veteran's right and left lower extremity sciatic nerve neuritis and neuralgia, but denied higher initial ratings for diabetic neuropathy in both legs.

The deciding factor: The evidence showed moderate intermittent pain and mild incomplete paralysis, which supported a 20 percent rating under DCs 8620 and 8720. However, the severity of symptoms did not warrant a higher rating under DCs 8520 and 8526.

Claimed conditions

Right Lower Extremity Diabetic Neuropathy (Sciatic Nerve), Left Lower Extremity Diabetic Neuropathy (Sciatic Nerve), Right Lower Extremity Diabetic Neuropathy (Femoral Nerve), Left Lower Extremity Diabetic Neuropathy (Femoral Nerve), Right Lower Extremity Neuritis of the Sciatic Nerve, Left Lower Extremity Neuritis of the Sciatic Nerve, Right Lower Extremity Neuritis of the Femoral Nerve, Left Lower Extremity Neuritis of the Femoral Nerve, Right Lower Extremity Neuralgia of the Sciatic Nerve, Left Lower Extremity Neuralgia of the Sciatic Nerve, Right Lower Extremity Neuralgia of the Femoral Nerve, Left Lower Extremity Neuralgia of the Femoral Nerve

How they argued it

Direct service connection

Exposure basis

None

Rating assigned

20%

Decision date

February 27, 2025

Citation

A25018174

Want to see how appeals like this one tend to go? Appeals like mine