Radiculopathy & sciatica decisions — 2025

The Board granted a 70 percent rating for the Veteran's service-connected depression, but remanded claims for service connection for neck condition and left- and right-arm radiculopathy.

The Board dismissed the appeal for individual unemployability as moot and denied increased ratings for thoracolumbar strain with degenerative disc disease, radiculopathy of both lower extremities, but granted restoration of a 20% rating for right lower extremity femoral nerve impairment.

The Board remands the case for further evidentiary development to ensure compliance with its prior remand instructions and to obtain additional medical records that may shed light on whether the Veteran meets the criteria/symptomatology picture for higher ratings.

The Board denied increased ratings for tinnitus, left ankle degenerative joint disease, and surgical scars, as well as earlier effective dates for service connection for right ankle strain with degenerative joint disease, right Charcot foot, and right lower extremity radiculopathy.

The Veteran's claim for special monthly compensation (SMC) based on the need for regular aid and attendance due to his service-connected orthopedic disabilities was granted.

The Board granted restoration of a 20 percent rating for lumbosacral strain and sciatic radiculopathy, effective March 8, 2023, but remanded earlier effective date claims.

The Board granted service connection for a lumbar spine disability, bilateral plantar fasciitis, and an acquired psychiatric disability. Service connection was denied for frostbite residuals of the left and right feet, and remanded claims for gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), hypertension, sleep apnea, and diabetes mellitus, type II.

The Veteran's lumbar spine degeneration was granted a 40 percent rating effective February 24, 2021. The other issues were remanded for further evaluation.

The Board has remanded the claims for increased ratings and earlier effective dates, as well as a claim for special home adaptation, due to pre-decisional duty to assist errors.

The Board restored the 20 percent rating for lumbar degenerative disc disease, finding that the reduction was improper. The other claims for increased ratings were denied.

The Board restored the 10 percent rating for right lower extremity (RLE) radiculopathy, femoral nerve, and denied increased ratings for left lower extremity radiculopathy, sciatic nerve, erectile dysfunction, TBI with unspecified depressive disorder, and migraines.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates and higher initial ratings for service-connected lower extremity radiculopathy, finding that September 24, 2020 was the earliest date entitlement arose.

The Board remands the matters of entitlement to an earlier effective date for service connection for right and left lower extremity sciatic nerve radiculopathy due to a need for additional evidence.

The Board granted an initial rating of 70 percent for a psychiatric disability, denied a higher rating for the low back disability as of August 2, 2023, and granted ratings in excess of 40 percent for left and right lower extremity sciatic nerve radiculopathy. The Veteran was also granted TDIU.

The Board granted service connection for GERD and increased ratings for degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine, right lower extremity radiculopathy, and left lower extremity radiculopathy. The appeal for a compensable initial rating for COPD and scar of the left shoulder was withdrawn. Other appeals were denied.

The Board denied service connection for left and right knee disabilities, as well as lumbar spine and lower extremity radiculopathy, due to a lack of evidence showing current disability or a link to in-service injury.

The Veteran is granted special monthly compensation (SMC) at the (l) level based on his need for regular aid and attendance due to service-connected disabilities, including PTSD and chronic fatigue syndrome.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including depressive disorder, lumbar spondylosis, and bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy, preclude him from securing or following substantially gainful employment.

The Board granted a 70 percent evaluation for the Veteran's psychiatric disorder and remanded evaluations for right lower extremity, left lower extremity, lumbar spine, and right knee conditions.

The Board granted service connection for hypertension, a residual scar on the left ankle, and chronic lumbosacral strain with degenerative arthritis and degenerative disc disease, as well as secondary conditions including sciatica and major depressive disorder. The decision also denied service connection for left and right hip arthritis.