The Board granted a 40 percent rating for lumbar radiculopathy, sciatic nerve, right and left lower extremities but denied earlier effective dates and a compensable rating for the posterior trunk scar.

The deciding factor: The disability was found to be moderately severe incomplete paralysis, warranting a 40 percent rating under Diagnostic Code 8520. Earlier effective dates were not granted due to the secondary nature of the conditions and the June 28, 2012, effective date for the primary condition.

Claimed conditions

lumbar radiculopathy, sciatic nerve, left lower extremity, lumbar radiculopathy, sciatic nerve, right lower extremity, posterior trunk scar status post laminectomy

How they argued it

Secondary to another service-connected condition

Exposure basis

None

Rating assigned

40%

Decision date

October 7, 2025

Citation

A25086673

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