The Veteran's thoracolumbar spine disability is denied a rating in excess of 10 percent.,Right lower extremity radiculopathy (femoral) has an effective date prior to March 29, 2021.,Left lower extremity radiculopathy (femoral) has an effective date prior to August 24, 2023.,Left lower extremity radiculopathy (sciatic) has an effective date of December 13, 2019.,Right lower extremity radiculopathy (sciatic) from December 13, 2019 to the present is rated at 20 percent.,Left lower extremity radiculopathy (femoral) from August 23, 2023 to the present is rated at 20 percent.,Right lower extremity radiculopathy (sciatic) has a rating in excess of 20 percent.
The deciding factor: The evidence does not support finding incapacitating episodes or forward flexion limited to 60 degrees or less, or combined range of motion limited to 120 degrees.,The evidence does not support finding that the Veteran's right lower extremity radiculopathy of the femoral nerve arose prior to March 29, 2021.,The evidence does not support finding that the Veteran's left lower extremity radiculopathy of the femoral nerve arose prior to August 24, 2023.,Resolving reasonable doubt in favor of the Veteran, his left lower extremity radiculopathy of the sciatic nerve manifested as moderate incomplete paralysis by December 13, 2019.,Resolving reasonable doubt in favor of the Veteran, his right lower extremity radiculopathy of the sciatic nerve manifested as moderate incomplete paralysis by December 13, 2019.,The evidence does not support finding physical manifestations of the Veteran's right lower extremity radiculopathy of the sciatic nerve that are, at worst during the aforementioned periods on appeal, moderate in severity.,Resolving reasonable doubt in favor of the Veteran, his left lower extremity radiculopathy of the femoral nerve manifested as moderate incomplete paralysis by August 23, 2023.
- Claimed conditions
- Degenerative disc disease with scoliosis, L5 spondylolysis and anterolisthesis, Right lower extremity radiculopathy (femoral), Left lower extremity radiculopathy (femoral), Left lower extremity radiculopathy (sciatic)
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- March 25, 2026
- Citation
- A26027075
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 A26027075.
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Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Denied
The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for special monthly compensation (SMC) based on the need for regular aid and attendance or at the housebound rate due to his ability to perform most activities of daily living independently despite some limitations.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased disability ratings due to inadequate examination in determining the severity of his service-connected lumbar spine and bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy.
- Partly granted
The Board granted an initial rating of 30 percent for herpes simplex and denied a higher rating for left lower extremity radiculopathy.
- Granted
The Board granted an effective date of November 29, 2021, but no earlier, for the award of service connection for a lumbosacral strain and January 11, 2023, but no earlier, for the award of service connection for right lower extremity radiculopathy (sciatic), right lower extremity radiculopathy (femoral), and left lower extremity radiculopathy (femoral).
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