Radiculopathy & sciatica decisions — 2025

The Board granted an effective date of March 2, 2007, for the grant of service connection for left and right lower extremity radiculopathy and November 26, 2014, for COPD, emphysema, and asthma. The claims for earlier effective dates were denied.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and chronic fatigue syndrome, but granted separate initial 10 percent ratings for right and left lower extremity restless leg syndrome associated with sciatic radiculopathy. The claims for increased ratings for lower extremity radiculopathy were also denied, as were the claims for higher ratings for knee conditions and IBS.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims that five prior rating decisions were products of clear and unmistakable error. The Board found that the Veteran's arguments constituted disagreements with how the Agency of Original Jurisdiction weighed evidence in final prior decisions, which cannot rise to the level of valid CUE claims.

The Veteran's asthma was granted a 100 percent rating prior to May 8, 2024, and the ratings for left and right lower extremity radiculopathy were increased from 10 percent to 20 percent.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for special monthly compensation (SMC) based on the need of regular aid and attendance due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Board granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include a mood disorder and alcohol abuse disorder, secondary to the Veteran's service-connected disabilities. The other claims for increased ratings were denied.

The Board granted effective dates of October 30, 2024, for the awards of service connection and increased ratings for various disabilities.

The Board remands the claims for a higher rating for thoracolumbar spine herniated disc and right lower extremity radiculopathy due to inadequate VA examinations that did not consider the ameliorative effects of medication.

The Board denied service connection for the veteran's claimed conditions, including APD, respiratory insufficiency, RHL, and cervical and upper extremity radiculopathy, as well as a compensable rating for LHL. The claims were not granted.

The Board granted service connection for lumbar pain, hypoesthesia and paresthesia of the right lower extremity, left sciatic radicular pain, hypoesthesia, and paresthesia of the left lower extremity, and OSA as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected unspecified depressive disorder. The Veteran was also granted an initial evaluation of 70 percent for his service-connected unspecified depressive disorder.

The Board granted an effective date of June 29, 2023 for the grant of service connection for degenerative arthritis with intervertebral disc syndrome and radiculopathy of the left sciatic nerve.

The Board granted a 40 percent rating for degenerative disc disease (DDD) with degenerative arthritis and retrolisthesis from February 16, 2021. Other claims were denied.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for cervical and bilateral upper extremities radiculopathy disabilities, as secondary to service-connected shoulders disabilities, due to inadequate medical evidence.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for earlier effective dates and increased ratings, as well as service connection for various conditions, except for a granted rating of 30 percent for GERD throughout the period on appeal.

The Board dismissed the appeals for service connection and increased ratings due to the Veteran's withdrawal of his appeal.

The Board granted a 40 percent rating for the cervical spine disability, a 30 percent rating for left upper extremity radiculopathy, and restored a 40 percent rating for right upper extremity radiculopathy.

The Board granted an increased rating of 40 percent for the Veteran's cervical spine degenerative disc disease, status post fusion and discectomy with limitation of motion, effective August 10, 2023. The Board also granted service connection for left upper extremity radiculopathy as secondary to the Veteran's cervical spine disorder.

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.

The appeal for an increased rating for the acquired psychiatric disorder and other disabilities was denied, with no increase in the assigned ratings.

The Board granted service connection for several conditions, including a back condition, left lower extremity radiculopathy, chronic fatigue syndrome, and migraine headaches, among others. It also granted increased ratings for PTSD and moderate, recurrent, major depressive disorder with anxious distress.