The Veteran was granted earlier effective dates for service connection of left lower extremity radiculopathy, sciatic nerve; right lower extremity radiculopathy, femoral nerve; and fecal incontinence, all from May 7, 2012. An increased rating of 20 percent for right lower extremity radiculopathy, sciatic nerve, was also granted effective November 30, 2018.

The deciding factor: The Veteran's conditions manifested prior to the date of his claim and he is entitled to service connection from that date due to the benefit of the doubt rule.

Claimed conditions

left lower extremity radiculopathy, sciatic nerve, right lower extremity radiculopathy, femoral nerve, fecal incontinence

How they argued it

Direct service connection

Exposure basis

None

Rating assigned

None in this decision

Decision date

November 24, 2025

Citation

A25101863

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