The Board granted a 40 percent rating for the low back disability, denied an increased rating in excess of 20 percent for right lower extremity femoral nerve radiculopathy, granted a separate 10 percent rating for left lower extremity femoral nerve radiculopathy, and denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss.

The deciding factor: The Veteran's low back disability more nearly approximated forward flexion of the thoracolumbar spine to 30 degrees or less without the ameliorative effects of medication. The right lower extremity femoral nerve radiculopathy was best approximated by moderate incomplete paralysis, and the left lower extremity femoral nerve radiculopathy was related to the low back disability and best approximated mild incomplete paralysis. Bilateral hearing loss did not meet the criteria for a service-connected disability.

Claimed conditions

Low back disability, Right lower extremity femoral nerve radiculopathy, Left lower extremity femoral nerve radiculopathy, Bilateral hearing loss

How they argued it

Direct service connection

Exposure basis

None

Rating assigned

40%

Decision date

December 12, 2025

Citation

A25107536

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