The Veteran's claim for an effective date prior to October 6, 2017, for the grant of service connection for right lower extremity peripheral neuropathy of the sciatic nerve is dismissed as moot due to the earlier established effective date in May 2005.,The Veteran's claim for an effective date prior to June 16, 2017, for left lower extremity radiculopathy and diabetic peripheral neuropathy of the sciatic nerve is granted with an effective date of May 16, 2005. The claim for an effective date prior to October 6, 2017, for left lower extremity peripheral neuropathy of the femoral nerve is also granted with an effective date of May 16, 2005.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's right lower extremity radiculopathy and peripheral neuropathy of the sciatic nerve are secondary to his service-connected back disability, which has a service connection effective date of May 16, 2005. The claim for an earlier effective date is moot as it would not lead to any effectual relief.,The Veteran's right lower extremity peripheral neuropathy of the femoral nerve and left lower extremity radiculopathy and diabetic peripheral neuropathy of the sciatic nerve are secondary to his service-connected diabetes, which has a service connection effective date of May 16, 2005. The claim for an earlier effective date is granted with an effective date of May 16, 2005.
- Claimed conditions
- Right lower extremity radiculopathy and diabetic peripheral neuropathy of the sciatic nerve, Right lower extremity peripheral neuropathy of the femoral nerve, Left lower extremity radiculopathy and diabetic peripheral neuropathy of the sciatic nerve, Left lower extremity peripheral neuropathy of the femoral nerve
- How they argued it
- Not specified
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- February 24, 2026
- Citation
- A26016494
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 A26016494.
What this means for you
A grant means the Board agreed the veteran was entitled to the benefit. Decisions like this show the kind of evidence and arguments that tend to succeed for claims like it.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Partly granted
The Board denied increased ratings for diabetes mellitus and peripheral neuropathy, but granted separate 10 percent disability ratings for left and right lower extremity femoral nerve peripheral neuropathy.
- Partly granted
The Board denied higher ratings for diabetes mellitus and peripheral neuropathy, granted a 20% rating for left and right lower extremity peripheral neuropathy of the sciatic nerve, and granted a TDIU from April 21, 2021.
- Denied
- Granted
An effective date of January 7, 2021, is granted for the assignment of a 70 percent rating for PTSD.,Effective dates earlier than June 3, 2021, are denied for all other disabilities on appeal.
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.