Radiculopathy & sciatica decisions — 2025

The Board granted a 40 percent rating for left and right lower extremity radiculopathy effective September 29, 2023, but denied an increased rating for tinnitus and other issues.

The Board granted earlier effective dates for service connection of December 10, 2019 and December 10, 2020 for left and right lower extremity radiculopathy with sciatic nerve impairment respectively.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for various disabilities, including back condition, lower extremity radiculopathy, and hernia residuals.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for special monthly compensation based on the need for regular aid and attendance of another person due to her service-connected disabilities.

The Board denied service connection for PTSD, cold weather injury residuals affecting the hands, and degenerative disc disease of the cervical spine. The claims for radiculopathy of the upper extremities and headaches were remanded.

The Board granted an earlier effective date of January 30, 2020, for the grant of service connection for posttraumatic arthritis of the left-hand long finger but denied earlier effective dates for other claims.

The Board remands the veteran's claims for further development and to correct pre-decisional errors in fulfilling its duty to assist.

The Board granted service connection for a migraine headache disorder and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected disabilities, and assigned a 10 percent rating for his lumbar area surgical scar. The remaining claims were remanded for further development.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for various conditions, including bilateral flat foot, left and right knee disorders, left leg disorder, right hip disorder, prostate disorder, lower back disorder, and bilateral lower extremity neuropathy/radiculopathy, to cure pre-decisional duty to assist errors.

The Board denied an increased rating for lumbosacral strain but granted initial ratings of 20 percent for left and right lower extremity radiculopathy, and remanded the claim for service connection for a right knee disability.

The Board remands the matters for a new examination to determine the severity of the Veteran's cervical spine, right upper extremity radiculopathy, and left upper extremity radiculopathy disabilities, discounting the beneficial effects of the Veteran's medications.

The Board denied an effective date prior to September 25, 2018, for the award of a separate rating for RUE radiculopathy and remanded claims for initial ratings in excess of 20 percent for RUE radiculopathy and a separate rating for LUE radiculopathy associated with degenerative disc disease of the cervical spine.

The Board denied an initial rating in excess of 20 percent for right lower extremity radiculopathy from January 30, 2013, and denied an initial rating in excess of 10 percent prior to January 30, 2013, and in excess of 20 percent from January 30, 2013, for left lower extremity radiculopathy.

The Board remands the issues of entitlement to a disability rating in excess of 40 percent for polyradiculopathy L3-5 active (sciatic) and in excess of 50 percent for degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine with intervertebral disc syndrome, for the period from July 23, 2013, to present, for further development.

The Board denied an increased rating for tinnitus and remanded the claims for lumbar spine IVDS, radiculopathy of both lower extremities, service connection for a psychiatric disorder, and TDIU due to further development needed.

The Board granted a 20 percent rating for right and left lower extremity radiculopathy, effective June 1, 2022, but denied a higher rating for lumbosacral strain with IVDS during the appeal period.

The Board remands the claims for increased ratings, TDIU, and SMC due to a pre-decisional duty-to-assist error in the evaluation of the Veteran's bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy.

The Board denied increased ratings for degenerative change of the lumbar spine with strain, hearing loss, and residuals of fractured right 5th metacarpal with right hand arthritis. The claims for service connection for vision loss, left shoulder pain and limited mobility, varicose veins, and TDIU were remanded.

The Board granted an effective date of April 15, 2024 for the grant of service connection and increased ratings for radiculopathies of the upper and lower extremities, but denied earlier effective dates for cervical strain and thoracolumbar sprain.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for earlier effective dates and increased ratings for his service-connected conditions, finding no evidence to support a higher rating or an earlier effective date.