The Board denied earlier effective dates for the Veteran's claims for service connection for a back condition and bilateral lower sciatic nerve radiculopathy, as the appropriate effective date is June 14, 2023, the date of his Supplemental Claim.
The deciding factor: The decision was based on the fact that the Veteran did not appeal the initial denial in 2019, and thus the June 2019 rating decision became final. The appropriate effective date is the date of the Supplemental Claim to reopen the matter.
- Claimed conditions
- degenerative disc disease other than intervertebral disc syndrome (back condition), left lower sciatic nerve radiculopathy, right lower sciatic nerve radiculopathy
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- March 6, 2025
- Citation
- A25020638
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 2,329 · Granted: 31% (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 A25020638.
What this means for you
A final Board denial may be appealed to the U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims, generally within 120 days of the Board mailing date. A Supplemental Claim with new and relevant evidence is a separate option. Another Higher-Level Review of the Board decision is not available. Check your own notice: this historical decision does not set your deadline.
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: Dismissed
The Veteran withdrew his appeal, effectively dismissing the case.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Board granted an initial rating of more than 10 percent for both the right and left lower sciatic nerve radiculopathy, effective from August 2023.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Veteran's ratings for left lower femoral nerve radiculopathy, right lower femoral nerve radiculopathy, degenerative joint disease of the lumbar spine with intervertebral disc syndrome, and right lower sciatic nerve radiculopathy were improperly reduced. The reductions are now reinstated.,The Veteran's claim for an increased rating in excess of 10 percent for right lower extremity radiculopathy affecting the sciatic nerve is denied.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected right lower sciatic nerve radiculopathy, left lower sciatic nerve radiculopathy, right femoral nerve radiculopathy, and residuals of a right ankle fracture are being remanded due to the need for further development.
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