The Board denied initial ratings in excess of 10 percent for various radiculopathies affecting the lower extremities, finding that the evidence did not support a higher rating.
The deciding factor: The February 2020 VA examination found no moderate or severe incomplete paralysis of any of the affected nerves, and the Veteran's symptoms were consistent with mild impairment only.
- Claimed conditions
- right lower extremity radiculopathy (sciatic nerve), left lower extremity radiculopathy (sciatic nerve), right lower extremity radiculopathy (anterior crural nerve), left lower extremity radiculopathy (anterior crural nerve), right lower extremity radiculopathy (obturator nerve), left lower extremity radiculopathy (obturator nerve), right lower extremity radiculopathy (external cutaneous nerve), left lower extremity radiculopathy (external cutaneous nerve), right lower extremity radiculopathy (ilio-inguinal nerve), left lower extremity radiculopathy (ilio-inguinal nerve)
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- April 22, 2025
- Citation
- A25036816
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.
- Partly granted
The Board granted a separate 10 percent rating for right lower extremity radiculopathy (femoral nerve) effective from August 14, 2013, but denied higher initial ratings for the sciatic nerve.
- Partly granted
The Board denied service connection for dermatochalasis, meibomian gland dysfunction, and blepharitis. The claims for lumbosacral strain, left lower extremity radiculopathy (sciatic nerve), right shoulder tendinopathy, diabetes, and prostate cancer with urinary incontinence status-post prostatectomy were remanded.
- Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's appeal for an increased initial rating for left lower extremity radiculopathy (sciatic nerve), finding that his symptoms were no worse than mild incomplete paralysis.
- Dismissed
The Board dismissed the veteran's appeals for initial compensable ratings and TDIU, but readjudicated a previously denied service connection claim for ischemic heart disease.
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