The Board granted an initial rating of 40 percent for lumbosacral strain associated with DDD from L5 to S1 with IVDS, effective March 17, 2020, and denied an earlier effective date for the right lower extremity sciatic nerve radiculopathy.
The deciding factor: The decision was based on the severity of the lumbosacral strain as evidenced by a range of motion of 30 degrees or less, which met the criteria for a 40 percent rating under the General Rating Formula for Injuries and Diseases of the Spine. The effective date for the right lower extremity sciatic nerve radiculopathy was not earlier than March 12, 2020, as it was part of the Veteran's continuously pursued increased lumbar spine rating appeal stream.
- Claimed conditions
- right lower extremity sciatic nerve radiculopathy, lumbosacral strain
- How they argued it
- Secondary to another service-connected condition
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 40%
- Decision date
- November 14, 2025
- Citation
- A25099353
Want to see how appeals like this one tend to go? Appeals like mine
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