The Veteran's claim for an effective date prior to February 6, 2023 for the award of service connection and a separate rating for left lower extremity sciatic nerve radiculopathy is denied. The earliest date of entitlement is February 6, 2023.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's claim for an effective date prior to February 6, 2023 was not supported by the evidence as the onset of his left lower extremity sciatic nerve radiculopathy did not arise until the February 6, 2023 VA examination.
- Claimed conditions
- sciatic nerve radiculopathy, left lower extremity, degenerative disc disease with spinal stenosis and intervertebral disc syndrome
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 20%
- Decision date
- January 12, 2026
- Citation
- A26002726
This is a plain-language summary generated by AI from a public Board of Veterans’ Appeals decision. It can contain errors — always verify against the original. Look up the original decision on VA.gov (opens in a new tab) using citation A26002726.
What this means for you
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Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claims for an effective date prior to November 22, 2021, for total disability based on individual unemployability (TDIU) and dependency and indemnity compensation (DEA). The Board found that there was no evidence showing the Veteran could not maintain substantially gainful employment due to his service-connected disabilities.
- Granted
The Veteran is granted service connection for tremors, migraines, facet arthropathy (claimed as back pain), sciatic nerve radiculopathy of the left lower extremity, and sciatic nerve pain of the right lower extremity. Service connection for breathing problems, hypertension, and obstructive sleep apnea are denied.,The Veteran's service-connected conditions include tremors, migraines, facet arthropathy (claimed as back pain), sciatic nerve radiculopathy of the left lower extremity, and sciatic nerve pain of the right lower extremity. Service connection for breathing problems, hypertension, and obstructive sleep apnea are denied.
- Partly granted
The veteran's increased rating claims for sciatic nerve radiculopathy, right lower extremity and right carpal tunnel syndrome were granted. The claim for the left lower extremity was denied.
- Granted
The veteran's PTSD and major depression have been rated at 100% from July 14, 2022. The veteran also qualifies for special monthly compensation (SMC) at the housebound rate starting August 17, 2022.
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