The Veteran's lower extremity radiculopathy was evaluated as moderate incomplete paralysis prior to January 17, 2019. The Board found the evidence against a finding of severe incomplete paralysis for this period and thus denied higher evaluations.
The deciding factor: Moderate incomplete paralysis is not sufficient to meet the criteria for an evaluation in excess of 20 percent as per VA rating criteria.
- Claimed conditions
- Left Lower Extremity Radiculopathy of the Femoral Nerve, Right Lower Extremity Radiculopathy of the Femoral Nerve
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- February 20, 2026
- Citation
- A26015623
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 A26015623.
What this means for you
A remand is not a loss. The Board sent the case back for more development — often a new exam or missing records — before making a final decision. Many remands later end in a grant, and the decision spells out exactly what the Board wanted to see.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Granted
The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, bilateral shin splints, and knee injuries, have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation since August 9, 2019. The Board has granted TDIU on this basis.
- Denied
The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings and effective dates, but granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) prior to April 24, 2023, and an effective date of May 12, 2022, for DEA under 38 U.S.C. Chapter 35.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's claims for service connection are remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations and opinions regarding her claimed conditions, as well as a review of the evidence related to toxic exposure risk activities.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for higher evaluations for DDD of the lumbar spine, RLE and LLE radiculopathy. The case requires additional development to address functional loss due to pain and medication effects.
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