The Veteran's bilateral lower extremity sciatic nerve radiculopathy is productive of moderately severe incomplete paralysis, with symptoms including diminished muscle strength and hypoactive reflexes. The Board has granted initial ratings of 40 percent for both the right and left lower extremities.
The deciding factor: The VA examinations and private report demonstrated motor and reflex impairment on all three evaluations, which aligns with a moderately severe evaluation (40% rating) under DC 8520.
- Claimed conditions
- Sciatic nerve radiculopathy
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 40%
- Decision date
- April 15, 2026
- Citation
- A26034818
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 A26034818.
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 Board has decided to remand the case for a new medical opinion regarding the Veteran's eligibility for PCAFC benefits due to insufficient reasoning in the previous decision. The claim will be reconsidered based on all available evidence, including lay statements and medical opinions.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claims for a rating in excess of 20 percent for low back strain with spondylosis, a separate rating for sciatic nerve radiculopathy, and entitlement to TDIU due to duty-to-assist errors.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the claims for a retrospective opinion to determine when and how severe the Veteran's sciatic and femoral nerve radiculopathy is, as well as which nerves are affected.
- Granted
The Veteran's femoral nerve radiculopathy of the left lower extremity is granted a 20 percent disability rating, effective March 8, 2023. The Veteran's sciatic nerve radiculopathy of the left lower extremity remains at a 10 percent disability rating.
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