Radiculopathy & sciatica decisions — 2025

The Board remands the claims for an initial rating in excess of 30 percent for left upper extremity radiculopathy, in excess of 20 percent for right upper extremity radiculopathy, and in excess of 10 percent for a cervical spine disability to schedule the Veteran for a medical examination.

The Board remands the claims for an initial rating in excess of 30 percent for left upper extremity radiculopathy, an initial rating in excess of 20 percent for right upper extremity radiculopathy, and a rating in excess of 10 percent for a cervical spine disability to schedule the Veteran for a medical examination.

The veteran withdrew his appeal for service connection for lumbar spine disc disease with fusion residuals, chronic pain syndrome, and lumbar radiculopathy.

The Board denied entitlement to higher ratings for the Veteran's service-connected lumbar spine and lower extremity radiculopathy disabilities, but granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability from April 22 to April 30, 2015.

The Board remands the claims for a lumbar spine disability and radiculopathy in the lower extremities due to an inadequate VA examination.

The Board denied service connection for sleep apnea and denied higher ratings for the Veteran's degenerative arthritis and intervertebral disc syndrome of the lumbar spine, left leg radiculopathy, hemorrhoids, and total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU).

The Board denied increased ratings for several service-connected conditions and granted service connection for a few others, including tinea pedis, bilateral dry eye syndrome, right shoulder disability, cervical spine disability, left knee disability (secondary), right knee disability (secondary), and right ankle disability (secondary).

The Board denied an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for right lower extremity radiculopathy and remanded the issue of a higher rating for lumbar spine degenerative arthritis with intervertebral disc syndrome (IVDS).

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection, as well as remanded several other claims.

The Board granted service connection for cervical spine multilevel spondylosis with mild canal narrowing at C3-4 through C5-6, lumbar spine degenerative disc disease, right shoulder strain and tendinitis, left shoulder tendinitis and tendinosis, as well as secondary radiculopathies in the upper and lower extremities.

The Board granted a disability rating of 20 percent for radiculopathy of the right lower extremity sciatic nerve and femoral nerve, effective February 12, 2019. The service connection claim for sleep apnea was remanded.

The Board granted service connection for bilateral tinnitus, chronic sinusitis, and an acquired psychiatric disorder. The claims for left ankle pain, right ankle pain, pseudofolliculitis barbae, and radiculopathy of the lower extremities were denied.

The Veteran's PTSD with alcohol use disorder is granted a 70 percent rating, while the claims for increased ratings for lumbosacral strain, left knee strain, and both lower extremity radiculopathies are denied due to failure to report for necessary VA examinations.

The Veteran's low back condition and right knee condition were granted ratings of 50 percent and 20 percent, respectively, from December 1, 2023. The other conditions for which increased ratings were sought were denied.

The Board denied service connection for headaches and denied increased ratings for lumbar spine degenerative arthritis, right knee DJD limitation of flexion, left shoulder arthritis, and other issues. However, the Board granted a 70 percent rating for depressive disorder and separate 20 percent ratings for right knee instability and right knee DJD limitation of extension.

The Veteran's PTSD is granted a disability rating of 100 percent, while other claims for increased ratings and service connection were denied.

The Board granted service connection for rhinitis, sinusitis, right elbow condition, left arm radiculopathy, and irritable bowel syndrome, all of which are presumed related to exposure to fine particulate matter during the Persian Gulf War.

The Board denied an effective date prior to February 10, 2021, for the grant of service connection for PTSD with alcohol and cannabis use disorders, as well as increased ratings for various disabilities.

The veteran withdrew her appeal for initial evaluations greater than 10 percent for the specified radiculopathies, and the Board dismissed all claims.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings and remanded several other issues, including a claim for TDIU.