The Board denied a rating in excess of 40 percent for lumbosacral strain with degenerative disc disease and granted a 40 percent disability rating for right lower extremity lumbar radiculopathy of the sciatic nerve, while denying all other claims.

The deciding factor: The Veteran's lumbar spine condition did not meet the criteria for a higher rating due to the absence of unfavorable ankylosis or functional equivalent thereof. The RLE lumbar radiculopathy of the sciatic nerve was found to be moderately severe incomplete paralysis, warranting a 40 percent rating.

Claimed conditions

lumbosacral strain with degenerative disc disease (DDD), right lower extremity (RLE) lumbar radiculopathy of the sciatic nerve, right lower extremity (RLE) lumbar radiculopathy of the anterior crural nerve (femoral), right lower extremity (RLE) lumbar radiculopathy of the ilio-inguinal nerve, right lower extremity (RLE) lumbar radiculopathy of the external cutaneous nerve of the thigh, left lower extremity (LLE) lumbar radiculopathy of the external cutaneous nerve of the thigh, chronic rhinitis

How they argued it

Direct service connection

Exposure basis

None

Rating assigned

None in this decision

Decision date

December 16, 2025

Citation

A25108733

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