The Board granted an initial disability rating of 20 percent for lumbosacral strain, but denied earlier effective dates for the right and left lower extremity radiculopathy involving the sciatic nerve.

The deciding factor: The Veteran's service-connected conditions met the criteria for a higher rating based on functional loss due to pain and additional factors contributing to disability. However, there was no evidence of symptoms prior to May 2016 that would warrant an earlier effective date for the radiculopathy claims.

Claimed conditions

lumbosacral strain, right lower extremity radiculopathy involving the sciatic nerve, left lower extremity radiculopathy involving the sciatic nerve

How they argued it

Direct service connection

Exposure basis

None

Rating assigned

20%

Decision date

October 22, 2025

Citation

A25091286

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