The Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 10 percent for radiculopathy of the sciatic nerve of the left lower extremity is denied. The claims for an increased rating for strain of the right hip with limitation of extension and Individual Unemployability (TDIU) are remanded.
The deciding factor: The evidence does not support a higher rating for the service-connected radiculopathy of the sciatic nerve of the left lower extremity, as it is currently rated at 10 percent. The right hip disability claim requires additional examination to assess the effects of medication and whether there is functional equivalent of ankylosis.
- Claimed conditions
- Radiculopathy of the sciatic nerve of the left lower extremity, Strain of the right hip with limitation of extension
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- April 30, 2026
- Citation
- A26040624
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 A26040624.
What this means for you
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What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Granted
The Board granted an effective date of July 14, 2020, for the grant of service connection for IVDS with spinal fusion and lumbar disc disease with stenosis, as well as associated radiculopathy of the sciatic and femoral nerves of the left and right lower extremities, and depressive disorder.
- Partly granted
The Board granted an effective date of March 4, 2019, for the grant of service connection for radiculopathy of the right lower extremity and a 20 percent disability rating for this condition. The earlier effective date claim for the left lower extremity was denied.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claims for increased ratings and additional VA examinations to address the effects of medication on symptoms and ensure thorough evaluation.
- Partly granted
The Board granted disability ratings of 20 percent for each service-connected lower extremity radiculopathy of the sciatic nerve from December 13, 2022, and remanded a rating in excess of 20 percent prior to January 4, 2024, and an excess of 40 percent thereafter, for degenerative disc disease (DDD), lumbar spine with bulging disc L5-S1 and intervertebral disc syndrome.
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