The Board granted service connection for lumbar intervertebral disc syndrome, with degenerative arthritis, degenerative disc disease, and lumbosacral strain; lumbar radiculopathy of the left and right lower extremities, sciatic nerve; and migraines.

The deciding factor: The evidence was approximately balanced as to whether the Veteran's lumbar IVDS, with degenerative arthritis, degenerative disc disease, and lumbosacral strain manifested due to his military service. The evidence was persuasive that the Veteran's bilateral lumbar radiculopathy, left and right lower extremity, sciatic nerve, is due secondarily to his service-connected lumbar IVDS. The evidence was persuasive that the Veteran's migraines are a medically unexplained chronic multisymptom illness presumed to be related to his military service in Southwest Asia.

Claimed conditions

lumbar intervertebral disc syndrome (IVDS), with degenerative arthritis, degenerative disc disease, and lumbosacral strain, lumbar radiculopathy, left lower extremity, sciatic nerve, lumbar radiculopathy, right lower extremity, sciatic nerve, migraines

How they argued it

Direct service connection

Exposure basis

None

Rating assigned

None in this decision

Decision date

October 28, 2025

Citation

A25093005

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