Radiculopathy & sciatica decisions — 2025

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for increased ratings and service connection, finding that June 29, 2021, was the earliest possible date of claim.

The Board granted the appellant's eligibility for direct payment of attorney fees based on past-due benefits awarded in a February 2024 rating decision that granted service connection for lumbosacral strain and right and left lower extremity radiculopathy.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for service connection and ratings for radiculopathy of the right and left lower extremities, finding no clear and unmistakable error in the August 2019 rating decision.

The Board remands all claims for service connection due to pre-decisional errors in the duty to assist, including missing service treatment records and inadequate medical opinions.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for residuals of sacroiliac injury, sciatica, left lower extremity, right knee disorder, and left knee disorder as there was no evidence to support a finding that these conditions were causally related to his active service.

The Board denied an evaluation in excess of 70 percent for PTSD and remanded several other claims, including service connection for various disorders.

The veteran was granted a 70 percent initial rating for somatic symptom disorder, and a 20 percent initial rating for intervertebral disc syndrome lumbosacral spine. Other claims were denied or remanded.

The Board granted readjudication of the claims for service connection for TBI, headaches, cervical spine disorder, right and left upper extremity radiculopathy, myofasciitis, and right and left shin splints based on new and relevant evidence.

The Board denied earlier effective dates for the grants of service connection for lumbosacral strain with degenerative arthritis, left lower extremity radiculopathy, right lower extremity radiculopathy, hypertension, diabetes mellitus type II, coronary artery disease (CAD), and impotency/erectile dysfunction, all from March 14, 2014.

The appeal was denied as no new and relevant evidence was received to readjudicate the previously denied claim of service connection for tinnitus, and there is not enough evidence to warrant a rating higher than 20 percent for radiculopathy in both lower extremities.

The Board granted earlier effective dates for the 40 percent ratings for IVDS and right shoulder disability, as well as additional separate ratings for neuritis and neuralgia of both lower extremity sciatic nerves, all effective October 22, 2018.

The veteran withdrew the appeals for increased ratings and earlier effective dates related to right and left lower extremity radiculopathy.

The Board denied service connection for right ear hearing loss disability, and remanded several other issues including ratings for ankle strains, lumbar spine, lower extremity radiculopathy, knee disabilities, chronic headaches, and an acquired psychiatric disorder.

The Board granted a 20 percent rating for cervical strain and a 40 percent rating for right upper extremity radiculopathy, effective from February 18, 2019.

The Board granted service connection for sleep apnea and a right hand/wrist disorder, but denied service connection for a bilateral foot disability, back disorder, sciatic pain in the right leg, sciatic pain in the left leg, and sinusitis.

The Board denied service connection for left lower extremity (LLE) femoral radiculopathy, right lower extremity (RLE) femoral radiculopathy, and a left elbow disability. However, the claim for erectile dysfunction was granted.

The Board denied service connection for a bilateral hearing loss disability and denied increased ratings for various disabilities, including left upper extremity radiculopathy, right knee tendinopathy, left knee tendinopathy, posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), generalized anxiety disorder, degenerative disc disease of the cervical spine, degenerative arthritis of the right shoulder, degenerative arthritis of the left shoulder, and plantar fasciitis in both feet.

The Board granted an earlier effective date of February 16, 2002, for the award of service connection for left lower extremity radiculopathy, sciatic nerve and femoral nerve but denied earlier effective dates for other conditions.

The Board granted service connection for right shoulder strain and tension headaches, denied service connection for sinusitis, and granted initial ratings of 70 percent, but no higher, for depressive disorder, 40 percent, but no higher, for lumbosacral strain, and 20 percent, but no higher, for left and right lower extremity radiculopathy.

The Board granted a 40 percent rating for service-connected right and left lower extremity sciatic radiculopathy from April 1, 2012, as well as TDIU from the same date.