The Veteran's claims for higher initial ratings for his service-connected degenerative disc disease of the lumbosacral spine with myofascial pain syndrome and femoral nerve radiculopathy of the right lower extremity were denied. The current effective date remains June 17, 2014.
The deciding factor: The evidence did not support granting higher initial ratings for these conditions as they continued to meet the criteria for a 40% rating under DC 5242-5243 and DC 8526 respectively.
- Claimed conditions
- Degenerative disc disease of the lumbosacral spine with myofascial pain syndrome, Femoral nerve radiculopathy of the right lower extremity
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 40%
- Decision date
- January 27, 2026
- Citation
- A26007280
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 A26007280.
What this means for you
A denial is a starting point, not the end of the road. You can see why this claim fell short — and, if you are still inside the one-year window, the appeal lanes that may remain open to you.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Denied
The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for depressive disorder and femoral nerve radiculopathy of the right lower extremity, finding that the severity of his symptoms did not warrant higher disability ratings.
- Granted
The Board granted an effective date of April 22, 2020, for compensable ratings and service connection for sciatic nerve radiculopathy in the right and left lower extremities.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine and associated radiculopathies due to new evidence received after the last Supplemental Statement of the Case.
- Denied
The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected lumbar spine disability and sciatic radiculopathy of the lower extremities have been denied due to failure to appear for scheduled examinations without good cause.
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