The Veteran's claims for increased ratings of bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy have been granted. The claims for service connection for depressive disorder and anxiety disorder have been dismissed due to improper concurrent elections. The claim for TDIU has been remanded.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's radiculopathy conditions were found to meet the criteria for a non-initial increased rating of 40 percent, but no higher, based on moderate to severely severe incomplete paralysis of the sciatic and femoral nerves.
- Claimed conditions
- Right lower extremity radiculopathy of the sciatic nerve, Left lower extremity radiculopathy of the sciatic nerve, Right lower extremity radiculopathy of the femoral nerve, Left lower extremity radiculopathy of the femoral nerve
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 40%
- Decision date
- March 6, 2026
- Citation
- A26020591
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 A26020591.
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.
- Granted
The Board has granted a rating of 20 percent for the Veteran's right lower extremity radiculopathy of the sciatic nerve, finding that it most nearly approximated moderate incomplete paralysis.
- Denied
The Veteran's service-connected disabilities alone do not render him so helpless as to require the regular aid and attendance of another person, resulting in a denial of SMC based on need for regular aid and attendance.
- Granted
The Board has granted an initial disability rating of 40 percent for right lower extremity radiculopathy of the sciatic nerve, which is considered moderately severe incomplete paralysis.
- Granted
The Board has granted service connection for degenerative arthritis and spinal stenosis with L3-L5 disc herniation (lumbar disability), left lower extremity radiculopathy of the sciatic nerve, and right lower extremity radiculopathy of the sciatic nerve. The Board found that these conditions are related to service.
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