The veteran was granted a 40 percent disability rating for both left and right lower extremity sciatic radiculopathy. The claim for a compensable disability rating for the surgical scar was denied, and the issue of a higher rating for the lumbar spine condition was remanded.

The deciding factor: The decision was based on the evidence showing moderately severe incomplete paralysis for the sciatic radiculopathy conditions.

Claimed conditions

left lower extremity sciatic radiculopathy, right lower extremity sciatic radiculopathy, surgical scar, lumbar spine surgery residual

How they argued it

Direct service connection

Exposure basis

None

Rating assigned

40%

Decision date

January 30, 2025

Citation

A25008356

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