The Board remands the claims for an initial disability rating in excess of 20 percent for IVDS with DDD of the lumbar spine and in excess of 10 percent for radiculopathy of the right and left lower extremities femoral and sciatic nerves, as well as the TDIU claim, to obtain additional evidence.

The deciding factor: The examination reports did not address the ameliorative effects of medication on the Veteran's symptoms, making them inadequate for rating purposes.

Claimed conditions

Intervertebral Disc Syndrome (IVDS) with Degenerative Disc Disease (DDD) of the lumbar spine, Radiculopathy of the right lower extremity femoral nerve, Radiculopathy of the right lower extremity sciatic nerve, Radiculopathy of the left lower extremity femoral nerve, Radiculopathy of the left lower extremity sciatic nerve

How they argued it

Direct service connection

Exposure basis

None

Rating assigned

None in this decision

Decision date

October 1, 2025

Citation

A25084589

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