The Board granted a 20 percent rating for spinal fusion and prior to November 2, 2023, granted ratings of 40%, 60%, and 30% for left lumbar radiculopathy of the sciatic nerve, right lumbar radiculopathy of the sciatic nerve, and left lumbar radiculopathy of the femoral nerve respectively. For periods after November 2, 2023, it denied ratings in excess of 20% for all conditions.
The deciding factor: The decision was based on the severity of the Veteran's symptoms as they relate to the criteria under DC 5241 and DC 8520/8526.
- Claimed conditions
- Spinal fusion, Left lumbar radiculopathy of the sciatic nerve, Right lumbar radiculopathy of the sciatic nerve, Left lumbar radiculopathy of the femoral nerve, Right lumbar radiculopathy of the femoral nerve
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- December 29, 2025
- Citation
- A25110482
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 785 · Granted: 47% (granted or partly granted, in the vetted decisions on this site)
Judge attribution: 2025 complete; earlier years partial.
This is a plain-language summary generated by AI from a public Board of Veterans’ Appeals decision. It can contain errors — always verify against the original. Look up the original decision on VA.gov (opens in a new tab) using citation A25110482.
What this means for you
A partial grant means some issues were granted while others were denied or remanded — common in multi-issue claims. Look at which issues went which way, and how each was argued.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the claims for an initial disability rating in excess of 10 percent for the lumbar spine disability prior to October 11, 2022 and since December 1, 2022. The Veteran's claim is currently rated at 10 percent under Diagnostic Code 5242.
- Denied
The Veteran's cervical strain with spinal fusion is rated at 20 percent, and the Board denied an increased rating.,The Veteran's degenerative joint disease of the lumbar spine is rated at 20 percent, and the Board denied an increased rating.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's claims for service connection for his lumbar spine condition and left lower extremity radiculopathy are being remanded due to incomplete service records and a lack of relevant VA treatment records. The Board will seek additional opinions regarding the etiology of these conditions.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claim for service connection for a back condition to correct pre-decisional duty to assist errors, including obtaining an appropriate medical examination and associated opinion.
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