Radiculopathy & sciatica decisions — 2025

The veteran was granted a rating of at least 10 percent for left ankle scars and denied a rating in excess of 10 percent for GERD with gastritis, as well as service connection for bilateral hearing loss, back disability, right knee disability, left knee disability, right foot plantar fasciitis, left foot plantar fasciitis, right lower extremity radiculopathy, left lower extremity radiculopathy, and an acquired psychiatric disability.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a clothing allowance for Sunscreen SPF 30 as there is no evidence that he was prescribed sunscreen for a service-connected disability.

The Board granted service connection for a back condition, including degenerative arthritis, lumbosacral strain, intervertebral disc syndrome, and bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy.

The Board granted service connection for the Veteran's lower back condition and left leg radiculopathy, finding that these conditions were incurred in or caused by active military service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for bilateral lower extremity diabetic neuropathy, finding that a compensable rating was not warranted based on the evidence of record.

The Board denied a compensable rating for the service-connected tenia pedis and onychomycosis bilateral feet, denied earlier effective dates for increased ratings and service connection, and remanded several claims for further development.

The Board granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability and a separate rating of 10 percent for right lower extremity radiculopathy, resolving all reasonable doubt in the Veteran's favor.

The Board granted a 20 percent rating for the right ankle disability and a 40 percent rating from February 5, 2021 to March 18, 2024 for the low back disability. Service connection was also granted for sciatic nerve conditions in both lower extremities as secondary to the lumbar spine disability.

The Board remands the claims for a neck disability, right upper extremity radiculopathy, and left upper extremity radiculopathy to obtain an adequate VA examination.

The Board granted an effective date of September 25, 2020 for the award of service connection for chronic low back pain and radiculopathy of both lower extremities.

The Veteran's service connection for generalized anxiety disorder was granted, while several other claims for increased ratings were denied. A 10 percent rating was also granted for certain scars starting from September 24, 2021.

The Board denied service connection for tinnitus, left lower extremity radiculopathy/peripheral neuropathy, and a left knee meniscal tear. However, it granted service connection for right lower extremity sciatica.

The Board denied service connection for hypertension, a higher rating for PTSD, and the reduction in rating for lumbosacral strain. The claims for service connection for GERD, erectile dysfunction, headaches, and higher ratings for bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy were remanded.

The Board granted service connection for a lumbar spine disability and bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy as secondary to the now service-connected lumbar spine disability.

The Board grants service connection for various disabilities, including degenerative arthritis and degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine, cervical arthritis and intervertebral disc syndrome, posterior neck scar, neurological impairments of all extremities, hypopharyngeal mucosa laceration with residual dysphagia and esophagus dysfunction, neurogenic bowel dysfunction, neurogenic bladder dysfunction, and erectile dysfunction, as secondary to service-connected spinal disabilities.

The Board granted service connection for erectile dysfunction (ED) as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected pituitary mass, but denied increased ratings for chronic sinusitis, deviated nasal septum with rhinitis, chronic pharyngitis with a history of strep throat and rhinitis, pituitary mass with migraine headaches, hypertension, hypothyroidism, lumbosacral strain with intervertebral disc syndrome and degenerative disc disease, left lower extremity radiculopathy of the femoral nerve, and left lower extremity radiculopathy of the sciatic nerve.

The veteran was granted an initial rating of 70 percent for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) with somatic system disorder with persistent pain, effective from November 21, 2019. The other claims were denied.

The Board granted a higher initial disability rating of 20 percent for the service-connected left and right lower extremity radiculopathy, as well as earlier effective dates for TDIU and DEA benefits.

The Board denied earlier effective dates for the grants of service connection and higher ratings for spinal stenosis, right lower extremity radiculopathy, left lower extremity radiculopathy, and persistent depressive disorder (PDD). An effective date of June 30, 2011 was granted for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities.

The Board granted service connection for cervical strain with bilateral upper extremity radiculopathy and remanded the other issues for further development.