The Board granted an earlier effective date for the award of service connection for right lower extremity sciatic nerve radiculopathy and restored a 40 percent rating for the lumbar spine disability.
The deciding factor: The evidence showed that the Veteran's service-connected lumbar spine disability included manifestations of right lower extremity radiculopathy at the time of his filing for service connection, supporting an earlier effective date. Additionally, there was no CUE in the initial 40 percent rating assigned, and the reduction was improper.
- Claimed conditions
- right lower extremity sciatic nerve radiculopathy, lumbar spine disability (intervertebral disc syndrome with degenerative disc disease, lumbosacral strain and posterior disc bulging and protrusion at L4-5)
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 40%
- Decision date
- June 27, 2025
- Citation
- A25055960
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 Board remands the claims for service connection for various conditions, including a back condition, right and left lower extremity sciatic nerve radiculopathy, neck condition, upper extremity radiculopathy, bilateral flatfoot, right foot plantar fasciitis, and right ankle pain, as the current evidence is inadequate to make a decision.
- Denied
The Board denied earlier effective dates for the awards of service connection for various disabilities, including PTSD with other specified depressive disorder and multiple wrist and finger pain conditions.
- Granted
The Board granted an increased rating from 20 percent to 40 percent for the Veteran's right lower extremity sciatic nerve radiculopathy, finding that the evidence supports a rating of 40 percent based on moderate severe incomplete paralysis.
- Dismissed
The appeal of the proposed reduction of the ratings for left and right lower extremity sciatic nerve radiculopathies from 20 percent to 10 percent was dismissed because it is not a final action.
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