An effective date of December 4, 2017, but no earlier, is granted for the grant of service connection for left lower extremity radiculopathy (femoral nerve) and left lower extremity radiculopathy (sciatic nerve). An initial evaluation higher than 20 percent for these conditions is denied.,An effective date of December 4, 2017, but no earlier, is granted for the grant of special monthly compensation (SMC) based on housebound criteria. An earlier effective date for service connection for low back disability is denied.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's claims were received within one year of his ITF and VA treatment records show that his radiculopathy symptoms began prior to December 4, 2017.
- Claimed conditions
- left lower extremity radiculopathy (femoral nerve), left lower extremity radiculopathy (sciatic nerve), lumbosacral strain with degenerative arthritis, degenerative disc disease, intervertebral disc syndrome, spondylolisthesis and vertebral fracture (low back disability)
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 20%
- Decision date
- March 31, 2026
- Citation
- A26029142
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 A26029142.
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.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to inadequate VA examinations and a pre-decisional duty to assist error. Additional development is needed for service connection of carpal tunnel syndrome, increased ratings for lower extremity radiculopathies, and obtaining a VA TERA opinion.
- Granted
The Veteran's lumbosacral strain with IVDS and associated radiculopathies of the left and right lower extremities are granted at a 40 percent rating prior to December 27, 2023, and denied for ratings in excess of this level from that date.
- Dismissed
The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings and earlier effective dates for his left and right lower extremity radiculopathy, as well as TDIU, have been dismissed due to the appellant withdrawing the appeal.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's claims for increased evaluations for service-connected left and right lower extremity radiculopathy are being remanded due to a scheduling error.
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