The Veteran's bilateral radiculopathies of the lower extremities for the sciatic nerve and femoral nerve are manifest by no more than mild incomplete paralysis, resulting in a denial of higher ratings.
The deciding factor: The evidence does not support findings that the Veteran's radiculopathy symptoms warrant ratings higher than 10 percent under DCs 8520 or 8526 for the service-connected right and left lower extremity radiculopathies of the sciatic and femoral nerves.
- Claimed conditions
- Radiculopathy, left lower extremity (femoral nerve), Radiculopathy, right lower extremity (femoral nerve), Radiculopathy, left lower extremity (sciatic nerve), Radiculopathy, right lower extremity (sciatic nerve)
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 10%
- Decision date
- January 27, 2026
- Citation
- A26007466
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 A26007466.
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.
- Granted
The Board granted a rating of 20 percent for both the right and left lower extremity radiculopathy, sciatic nerve, as the Veteran's conditions were found to be moderate incomplete paralysis.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claims for a higher disability rating for degenerative disc disease with intervertebral disc syndrome and bilateral radiculopathy of the lower extremities due to an inadequate VA examination.
- Partly granted
The Board granted service connection for a cervical spine condition and dismissed the claim for PTSD, while denying claims for radiculopathy of the right upper extremity, TBI rating increase, status post right knee meniscectomy rating increase, and scar rating.
- Partly granted
The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and radiculopathy, left lower extremity (sciatic nerve), while granting service connection for temporomandibular joint (TMJ) strain. The Board also granted a 30 percent rating for bilateral plantar fasciitis.
Free starter guide for your own claim
Reading this because you were denied or under-rated? Get the plain-English next steps — your appeal options, the deadline that protects you, and how appeals like yours turn out. One email, no spam.
We will only use this to send the guide. No spam, unsubscribe any time. We never sell your information.
We are not the VA. Veterans’ Rights is an independent resource built for veterans. We are not the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, not part of the government, and not endorsed by any government agency.
This is general information, not legal advice. For advice about your own situation, talk to a VA-accredited representative — many help for free.