The Board denied increased ratings for the Veteran's lower back disability, sciatic nerve radiculopathy of both lower extremities, and internal and external cutaneous nerve radiculopathies. However, it granted restoration of a 40 percent rating for sciatic nerve radiculopathy in both lower extremities from April 1, 2020, and awarded TDIU effective February 1, 2019.
The deciding factor: The decision was based on the evidence not reflecting actual improvement under ordinary conditions of life, and the Veteran's service-connected disabilities precluded him from securing and following substantially gainful employment.
- Claimed conditions
- Degenerative arthritis of the thoracolumbar spine with intervertebral disc syndrome, Sciatic nerve radiculopathy of the left lower extremity, Sciatic nerve radiculopathy of the right lower extremity, Internal saphenous nerve radiculopathy of the left lower extremity, Internal saphenous nerve radiculopathy of the right lower extremity, External cutaneous nerve radiculopathy of the left lower extremity, External cutaneous nerve radiculopathy of the right lower extremity
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- March 5, 2025
- Citation
- A25020513
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 703 · Granted: 47% (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 A25020513.
What this means for you
A partial grant means some issues were granted while others were denied or remanded — common in multi-issue claims. Look at which issues went which way, and how each was argued.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional examinations to assess the severity of her service-connected degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine with lumbarization of S1, as well as her sciatic nerve radiculopathy of the left and right lower extremities. The claims are inextricably intertwined due to their association.
- Denied
The Veteran's service-connected degenerative arthritis of the thoracolumbar spine with intervertebral disc syndrome and cervical spine are currently rated at 20 percent, which is denied as not meeting criteria for a higher rating. The left lower extremity radiculopathy is also rated at 20 percent.
- Granted
The Board granted higher initial ratings for the Veteran's degenerative arthritis of the thoracolumbar spine with intervertebral disc syndrome and bilateral lower extremity radiculopathies, as well as an earlier effective date for service connection.
- Granted
The Board granted an effective date of April 22, 2020, for compensable ratings and service connection for sciatic nerve radiculopathy in the right and left lower extremities.
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.