The Veteran's right and left lower extremity sciatic radiculopathy have been granted service connection with a 20% rating effective February 26, 2020. The ratings are subject to regulations governing payment of monetary awards.
The deciding factor: The earlier effective date of February 26, 2020, is based on the diagnosis of sciatic radiculopathy in a February 2020 MRI showing degenerative disc disease at L5-S1 resulting in mild central canal and left lateral recess stenosis.
- Claimed conditions
- Right Lower Extremity Sciatic Radiculopathy, Left Lower Extremity Sciatic Radiculopathy
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 20%
- Decision date
- February 24, 2026
- Citation
- 26002566
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 26002566.
What this means for you
A grant means the Board agreed the veteran was entitled to the benefit. Decisions like this show the kind of evidence and arguments that tend to succeed for claims like it.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Granted
The Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) is granted, effective October 11, 2020. The TDIU award is based on the combined effects of her service-connected disabilities and their impact on her ability to maintain employment.
- Granted
The Veteran is granted SMC based on the need for aid and attendance at the 38 U.S.C. � 1114(n 1/2) rate, but no higher, prior to January 25, 2019 and from March 1, 2019, due to his service-connected depressive disorder alone causing him to be in need of regular aid and attendance.
- Granted
The Veteran's cervical spine disability, lumbar spine disability, right and left lower extremity radiculopathies, and common peroneal and superficial peroneal radiculopathies have been granted initial ratings. The Veteran's deep peroneal radiculopathy has also been granted an initial rating.
- Denied
The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for left lower extremity sciatic and femoral radiculopathy have been denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating prior to February 22, 2021, or thereafter.
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