The Board granted the restoration of a 20 percent rating for right lower extremity radiculopathy from September 10, 2024, and granted separate ratings for left and right lower extremity neuralgia. The lumbar spine disability was denied a higher rating.

The deciding factor: Improvement in the Veteran's ability to function under ordinary conditions of life and work has not been shown for the right lower extremity radiculopathy, while the evidence does not support a higher rating for the lumbar spine disability prior to surgery on August 16, 2024.

Claimed conditions

right lower extremity radiculopathy, lumbar spine degenerative disc disease (DDD), strain, and intervertebral disc syndrome (IVDS), left lower extremity radiculopathy, residual surgical low back scar

How they argued it

Direct service connection

Exposure basis

None

Rating assigned

None in this decision

Decision date

October 21, 2025

Citation

A25090578

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