Radiculopathy & sciatica decisions — 2025

The Board denied an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for left lower extremity sciatic nerve radiculopathy and a rating in excess of 20 percent for right lower extremity sciatic nerve radiculopathy. However, the Board granted a 20 percent rating for right lower extremity sciatic nerve radiculopathy beginning on March 19, 2020.

The Board granted service connection for a back disability and bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy on a secondary basis, finding the evidence to be in equipoise.

The Veteran withdrew all pending appeals, and the Board dismissed the appeal.

The Board granted the restoration of a 20 percent rating for cervical strain from October 1, 2024, and denied compensable ratings for bilateral hearing loss, scars on both knees, upper extremity radiculopathies, and service connection for wrist disorders.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for various disabilities, including a lumbar spine disability and radiculopathies of both lower extremities, as well as left inguinal hernia and its scar.

The Board granted an effective date of February 6, 2023 for left lower extremity radiculopathy but denied the same for right lower extremity radiculopathy. The increased rating claims for all conditions were remanded.

The Board remands the claims for an earlier effective date for TDIU and higher ratings for lumbar spine and left lower extremity sciatic radiculopathy to correct pre-decisional duty to assist errors.

The Board denied a rating in excess of 40 percent for lumbosacral strain with degenerative disc disease and granted a 40 percent disability rating for right lower extremity lumbar radiculopathy of the sciatic nerve, while denying all other claims.

The Board granted service connection for lumbar spine disability, including lumbar disc bulge, lumbar scoliosis with intervertebral disc syndrome (IVDS), and right lower extremity radiculopathy.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a finding of total disability based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities, as his service-connected back, bilateral hip, bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy, and left foot disabilities do not prevent him from securing or maintaining substantially gainful employment.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection and higher ratings, as well as a TDIU prior to April 8, 2022.

The Board remands the claims for an initial disability rating greater than 10 percent for radiculopathy of the right and left lower extremities, sciatic nerve, to obtain a new VA examination to assess the current severity of the Veteran's conditions.

The Board remands the case for additional development to ensure compliance with prior remand directives.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, back and foot conditions, precluded him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board granted service connection for a back disability, left lower lumbar radiculopathy, and right lower lumbar radiculopathy.

The Board denied the veteran's appeals for service connection due to untimely filings.

The Board granted service connection for several conditions, including lumbar spine degenerative arthritis and radiculopathy of the sciatic and femoral nerves, with effective dates from March 15, 2013. The Board also granted a TDIU and DEA based on unemployability due to service-connected disabilities.

The Board granted service connection for right hip arthritis and a TDIU as of June 8, 2020, while denying increased ratings for sciatica, left hip arthritis, and bilateral hearing loss.

The Board dismissed the claims for service connection for ADHD and spondylolisthesis, cervical spinal stenosis, and neck strain as they were not ripe for review. The remaining claims are remanded for further development.

The appeal for a higher rating for left shoulder strain with bursitis has been withdrawn, and the appeal for service connection for left upper extremity radiculopathy is untimely.