The Board granted an initial disability rating of 20 percent for radiculopathy, sciatic nerve, left and right lower extremities. The claim for a compensable rating prior to October 17, 2019, for migraine headaches was denied, as were the claims for TDIU due solely to the effects of migraine headaches.

The deciding factor: The Veteran's radiculopathy manifested by mild sensory and reflex/motor symptoms, which more closely approximated moderate incomplete paralysis. The evidence did not show a high or very high degree of disability that would warrant a finding of moderately severe or severe incomplete paralysis for either lower extremity. For the migraine headaches, there was no evidence of characteristic prostrating attacks averaging one in two months over the last several months prior to October 17, 2019.

Claimed conditions

Radiculopathy, sciatic nerve, left lower extremity, Radiculopathy, sciatic nerve, right lower extremity, Migraine headaches

How they argued it

Direct service connection

Exposure basis

None

Rating assigned

None in this decision

Decision date

December 2, 2025

Citation

A25103675

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