The Board granted earlier effective dates for the increased 20 percent ratings for radiculopathy of the left and right lower extremities (sciatic nerve) but denied earlier effective dates for service connection for radiculopathy involving both femoral nerves, as well as for chemical pneumonia and Dietl's crisis.

The deciding factor: The Board resolved reasonable doubt in favor of the Veteran by finding that his symptoms met the criteria for a 20 percent rating from November 13, 2020, but denied earlier effective dates due to lack of new and relevant evidence supporting service connection for chemical pneumonia and Dietl's crisis.

Claimed conditions

Radiculopathy of the left lower extremity (sciatic nerve), Radiculopathy of the right lower extremity (sciatic nerve), Radiculopathy of the left lower extremity (femoral nerve), Radiculopathy of the right lower extremity (femoral nerve), Chemical pneumonia (also claimed as burn on the left lung), Dietl's crisis (also claimed as floating wandering kidney and flank pain)

How they argued it

Reopened with new and material evidence

Exposure basis

None

Rating assigned

20%

Decision date

October 1, 2025

Citation

A25084754

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