Radiculopathy & sciatica decisions — 2025

The Board denied the claims for increased ratings for lumbar spine disability and bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy, finding that the evidence did not support a higher rating.

The Board granted a 40 percent rating for L4-L5 space narrowing degenerative arthritis prior to January 14, 2025, and denied higher ratings for the other conditions.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for an earlier effective date for the grants of service connection for various conditions, as no evidence was found to support a claim prior to September 28, 2023.

The Veteran was granted a 40 percent rating for right lower extremity radiculopathy involving the sciatic nerve, but other claims were denied.

The Veteran was granted an initial rating of 20 percent for lumbar strain and lumbar radiculopathy, but the increased ratings were denied.

The Board granted service connection for hypertension, residuals of stroke, and osteoarthritis right hip including right thigh injury. The Veteran's disability rating in excess of 40 percent for osteoarthritis and degenerative disc disease of lumbar spine was denied.

The Board remands the claim for a medical opinion addressing whether the Veteran's left lower extremity radiculopathy, sciatic nerve, has been aggravated by his service-connected post-operative residuals, total left knee replacement.

The Board granted an initial evaluation of 20 percent for left lower extremity (LLE) sciatic radiculopathy and 30 percent for the left knee disability from August 7, 2019 to September 26, 2019.

The Board dismissed several appeals for higher disability ratings and effective dates, but remanded issues related to fibromyalgia, irritable bowel syndrome, and psychiatric disability.

The Board granted service connection for a lumbosacral strain with lumbar radiculopathy of the bilateral lower extremities, resolving reasonable doubt in favor of the Veteran.

The Board granted service connection for left upper extremity radiculopathy and tinnitus, and affirmed a 40 percent disability rating for right upper extremity radiculopathy from May 3, 2020, to May 2, 2021. Other claims were remanded.

The Board granted increased disability ratings of 50 percent for the service-connected bilateral plantar fasciitis with calcaneal spur and hallux valgus of the left foot, and 40 percent for both the left and right lower extremity radiculopathy, but denied earlier effective dates.

The appeal was granted for service connection of renal cell carcinoma, chronic depression or dysthymia, and PTSD. The claims for earlier effective dates were denied.

The Veteran withdrew the appeal for all service connection and increased rating claims, effective March 14, 2025.

The Board granted service connection for a cervical spine disability, left and right upper extremity radiculopathy, and bilateral hand tremors but denied service connection for a disability manifested by symptoms of fatigue, snoring, and daytime sleepiness, claimed as chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS), and denied an initial rating in excess of 30 percent for irritable bowel syndrome, an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for psoriasis of the scalp, and an initial rating of 40 percent or higher for thoracic spine strain.

The Board granted an initial disability rating of 20 percent, but no higher, for right and left lower extremity sciatic radiculopathy based on moderate incomplete paralysis.

The Board granted a rating of 40 percent for the low-back condition and 50 percent for sinusitis, while denying increased ratings for the right-shoulder strain and service connection for left-leg radiculopathy, right-leg radiculopathy, and headache condition.

The Board granted an effective date of August 30, 2016 for the award of service connection for left lumbar radiculopathy and a 40 percent rating for lumbar degenerative joint disease to include lumbar spondylosis from that date. The claims for increased ratings for right elbow conditions were denied.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for various disabilities due to inadequate medical evidence and opinions.

The Board remands the issues of entitlement to an earlier effective date and higher initial ratings for service-connected low back disability and left lower extremity radiculopathy due to a pre-decisional duty to assist error.