The Board granted earlier effective dates for the awards of service connection for bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy and a total disability rating due to individual unemployability, assigning them from August 15, 2021.
The deciding factor: The evidence reasonably raised the issue of entitlement to compensation for associated lumbar radiculopathy within one year of the Veteran's intent to file in January 2022, and it is factually ascertainable that as of August 15, 2021, the Veteran's lumbar disability increased in severity so as to result in symptoms of bilateral lower extremity lumbar radiculopathy.
- Claimed conditions
- Radiculopathy of the right lower extremity (sciatic 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 2, 2025
- Citation
- A25084956
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