Radiculopathy & sciatica decisions — 2025

The Veteran's right shoulder rotator cuff syndrome and other service-connected disabilities have been found to warrant increased ratings, with a 40 percent rating granted for the right shoulder disability and TDIU granted.

The Board granted service connection for the Veteran's neck condition, left-arm and right-arm radiculopathy, low back condition (degenerative arthritis), left-knee meniscus surgery residuals, right-knee meniscus and anterior cruciate ligament surgeries residuals, and irritable bowel syndrome. The claim for headaches and sinusitis was denied.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for coronary arteriosclerosis, a back disorder, and bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy disorders due to inadequate VA examinations.

The Board remands the appeal for further development, including obtaining a retrospective medical opinion to determine the date of onset of seizure disorder and VA vocational rehabilitation benefits records from 1993.

The Board granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, a back disability, and radiculopathy of the left lower extremity (LLE), but denied service connection for sinusitis and cataracts.

The Board granted service connection for chronic lumbar radiculopathy, right ankle disability, left ankle disability, and bilateral plantar fasciitis. Service connection was denied for allergic rhinitis, and a rating in excess of 10 percent for the left wrist disability was also denied.

The Board granted service connection for back disability and sciatica of the right lower extremity, but denied it for sciatica of the left lower extremity.

The Board granted a separate 20 percent disability rating for radiculopathy of the right and left upper extremities, as well as a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities (TDIU), but denied an increased rating in excess of 40 percent for the Veteran's back disability.

The Board found that the Veteran was not unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation by reason of his service-connected disabilities prior to July 11, 2019.

The Board denied the claims for entitlement to increased ratings for a back condition and bilateral lower extremity sciatic and femoral neuropathy.

The Board remands the case for additional development and consideration of various issues, including increased rating claims for low back disability, right lower extremity radiculopathy, right knee disability, right hip disability, left wrist carpal tunnel syndrome, and entitlement to a TDIU prior to May 10, 2022, as well as service connection for a right shoulder disorder.

The Board denied service connection for left knee arthritis, pain; right knee arthritis, pain; sciatic nerve pain right leg; left foot arthritis, pain; and right foot arthritis, pain as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected lumbar spine degenerative arthritis with disc bulging due to insufficient evidence of a nexus between these conditions and her service or service-connected disability.

The Board denied various claims for increased ratings and effective dates, except for granting a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities.

The Board granted service connection for a right thumb scar status post laceration and readjudicated the claims of entitlement to service connection for various disorders, finding new and relevant evidence in some cases.

The Board denied service connection for a lower extremity disorder to include radiculopathy, finding that the evidence shows it is caused by his nonservice-connected lumbar spine disorder.

The Board granted service connection for left lower extremity radiculopathy, finding it to be secondary to the Veteran's service-connected lumbosacral strain with degenerative arthritis.

The Board remands the claim for a housebound and aid and attendance examination to determine if the Veteran's service-connected disabilities require regular aid and attendance.

The Board denied an increased rating for the Veteran's lumbar strain with spondylosis and left lower extremity radiculopathy, finding that the evidence did not support a higher disability rating.

The Board denied an increased rating for the Veteran's lumbar strain with spondylosis and left lower extremity radiculopathy, finding that the evidence did not support a higher disability rating.

The Board granted initial ratings for cervical spine DJD, right and left upper extremity radiculopathy, lumbar DJD, and right lower extremity radiculopathy, but denied higher ratings for right hip limitation of flexion and extension.