Radiculopathy & sciatica decisions — 2025

The Board granted earlier effective dates of July 29, 2017, for the grants of service connection for lumbosacral strain of the thoracolumbar spine and related conditions.

The Board denied a rating in excess of 20 percent for the Veteran's right lower extremity radiculopathy as it has not manifested in moderately severe incomplete paralysis.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for an earlier effective date for service connection for right and left lower extremity femoral radiculopathy, finding that entitlement arose no earlier than April 16, 2021.

The Veteran is unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation due to her service-connected disabilities, and therefore, a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) is granted.

The Board granted ratings of 20 percent for the Veteran's left and right leg radiculopathies, sciatic nerve, effective June 18, 2020.

The Board remands the claim for service connection of a chronic disability of the thoracolumbar spine to correct duty to assist errors.

The Board denied service connection for a sleep disorder other than insomnia and denied increased ratings for migraine headaches, PTSD with alcohol use disorder, insomnia disorder, and residuals of TBI, and TDIU prior to October 27, 2021. However, the Board granted a 50 percent rating for migraine headaches since June 11, 2021, a 70 percent rating for PTSD with alcohol use disorder, insomnia disorder, and residuals of TBI since May 1, 2019, and a TDIU solely due to service-connected psychiatric disabilities as of October 27, 2021.

The Board granted a 60 percent rating for right lower extremity sciatica from October 3, 2017, but denied an increased rating prior to that date.

The Veteran was granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) from September 22, 2007 to December 18, 2015 due to the combined effects of his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran is granted special monthly compensation for the loss of use of his right foot from March 2, 2016, and both legs from September 24, 2021.

The Board remands the claims for higher evaluations for lower extremity femoral and sciatic radiculopathy due to insufficient evidence.

The Board granted service connection for tension headaches, left testicular pain, right knee disability, lumbar spine disability, and left lower extremity radiculopathy. The reduction in rating for posttraumatic stress disorder with major depressive disorder and alcohol use disorder from 70 percent to 50 percent was improper; a 70 percent disability rating is restored.

The Board granted service connection for schizophrenia and denied service connection for a lumbosacral strain, left lower extremity radiculopathy, left lower extremity claudication, and a gastrointestinal ulcer.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings and eligibility for specially adapted housing and special home adaptation benefits, as well as an earlier effective date for a disability rating.

The Board remands the claims for lumbar radiculopathy with foot drop, left lower extremity, obstructive sleep apnea, and coronary artery disease status post myocardial infarction to provide a VA examination and obtain outstanding SSA records.

The Board of Veterans' Appeals is remanding the claims for service connection for right and left upper extremity radiculopathy to ensure compliance with a regulatory duty to assist.

The Board denied service connection for a left knee disorder, cervical spine disorder, and cervical radiculopathy as the evidence did not support a finding that these conditions were related to the Veteran's military service.

The Board denied an effective date earlier than August 28, 2001, for the right lower extremity and remanded the issue of an effective date prior to April 13, 2004, for the left lower extremity.

The Board granted service connection for a left shoulder disability, but remanded the claims for back, neck, left foot, right foot, and left arm disabilities.

The Board denied a rating in excess of 10 percent prior to December 21, 2022, and in excess of 40 percent thereafter for the Veteran's back disability and also denied a separate rating for right lower extremity (RLE) radiculopathy.