Radiculopathy & sciatica decisions — 2025

The Board denied service connection for left lower extremity sciatica and remanded the claims for vertigo and right lower extremity sciatica to obtain additional evidence.

The Board granted a 40 percent rating for the Veteran's lumbar spine disability and an effective date of January 11, 2021, for service connection of right lower extremity radiculopathy.

The Board granted service connection for a left elbow condition, radiculopathy of the sciatic nerve in both lower extremities as secondary to lumbosacral strain, and increased ratings for lumbosacral strain and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).

The Board remands the claims for service connection for various conditions, including left knee pain, right knee pain, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, diabetes mellitus, degenerative arthritis of the spine, and radiculopathy of both lower extremities, due to missing records and a need for additional evidence.

The Board denied service connection for a back disability, right and left lower extremity radiculopathy, right and left hip disabilities, and a compensable rating for a left tibial nerve injury due to insufficient evidence linking these conditions to the Veteran's active military service.

The Board granted service connection for lumbar radiculopathy, right lower extremity and remanded the claims for left hip strain and right hip strain.

The Board grants an earlier effective date of April 2, 2020, but no earlier, for the awards of service connection for left lower extremity radiculopathy; right lower extremity radiculopathy; status post arthroscopy right knee limitation of flexion; increased disability rating for status post arthroscopy right knee; and an increased disability rating for chronic back pain, degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine and spinal stenosis.

The Board granted service connection for the Veteran's back conditions and bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy, resolving all doubt in favor of the Veteran.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for an earlier effective date, increased ratings, and service connection, finding no evidence of a claim or appeal prior to April 11, 2019.

The Board denied service connection for various disabilities, including the right and left hip, ankle, and flatfoot conditions due to insufficient evidence of current disability. The claims for shoulder strain, neck, back, and neurological conditions were remanded for further development.

The Board granted earlier effective dates and increased ratings for the Veteran's service-connected conditions, including degenerative arthritis of the cervical spine with spinal fusion, right upper extremity radiculopathy, left upper extremity radiculopathy, and coronary artery disease.

The veteran withdrew his appeal for all issues, including initial and increased ratings for various conditions and service connection claims.

The Board denied increased ratings for radiculopathy of the femoral and sciatic nerves in both lower extremities but granted an earlier effective date for a 10 percent rating for the left lower extremity.

The Board remands the claims for increased ratings for intervertebral disc syndrome with spinal stenosis and facet hypertrophy, right lower extremity radiculopathy of the sciatic nerve, and left lower extremity radiculopathy of the sciatic nerve to ensure compliance with a previous remand.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability, special monthly compensation due to the need for aid and attendance, and SMC due to loss of use of a creative organ prior to March 6, 2003.

The Board denied higher ratings for the Veteran's compartment syndrome, superficial peroneal neuropathy of the left lower extremity with restless leg syndrome associated with compartment syndrome, and radiculopathy affecting both sciatic nerves. An earlier effective date was granted for the right sciatic nerve radiculopathy.

The Board restored the 30 percent rating for right upper extremity radiculopathy effective September 27, 2022, and denied a higher rating.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for a strain of the left 5th digit, left ankle strain, lumbosacral strain, headaches, and left lower extremity radiculopathy to obtain additional medical opinions.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for various service-connected conditions, including lumbosacral strain with degenerative arthritis, cervical spine disability, radiculopathy of both upper and lower extremities, bilateral foot hammer toe, migraine headaches, sinusitis, left shoulder bursitis, and PTSD.

The Board granted a rating of 30 percent for radiculopathy of the left lower extremity involving the femoral nerve, but denied increased ratings for radiculopathy of the left and right lower extremities involving the sciatic nerve.