The Board granted a 20 percent rating for left and right lower extremity sciatic nerve radiculopathy, but denied ratings in excess of 10 percent for femoral nerve radiculopathy and higher ratings for back disability with IVDS and right shoulder disability.

The deciding factor: The evidence supported moderate incomplete paralysis for the sciatic nerve radiculopathy, while there was no evidence of severe or complete paralysis to warrant a higher rating. The Board found that the Veteran's symptoms were most analogous to moderate incomplete paralysis.

Claimed conditions

left lower extremity radiculopathy of the sciatic nerve, right lower extremity radiculopathy of the sciatic nerve, right lower extremity femoral radiculopathy, left lower extremity femoral radiculopathy, lumbar degenerative disc disease to include intervertebral disc syndrome (IVDS) with degenerative arthritis, right shoulder labral re-tear with instability status post arthroscopy and strain

How they argued it

Direct service connection

Exposure basis

None

Rating assigned

None in this decision

Decision date

November 19, 2025

Citation

A25100796

Want to see how appeals like this one tend to go? Appeals like mine