Radiculopathy & sciatica decisions — 2025

The Board denied service connection for a bilateral knee disability and denied increased ratings for degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine and radiculopathy of the right lower extremity prior to June 7, 2024. The appeal was remanded for other issues.

The Veteran withdrew her appeal for increased ratings of cervical spine disability and right upper extremity radiculopathy.

The Board denied an earlier effective date for a disability rating of 40 percent for bowel obstruction s/p resections with malabsorption syndrome from short gut prior to June 3, 2022. The claims for earlier effective dates for the evaluations of lumbosacral strain with degenerative arthritis and bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy were remanded.

The Board denied earlier effective dates for service connection and increased ratings, as the evidence does not support an earlier date of entitlement.

The Board granted service connection for a back disability, right lower extremity radiculopathy, left lower extremity radiculopathy, right hip tensor fascia lata syndrome, left knee suprapatellar tendinitis, irritable bowel syndrome, and sinusitis.

The Board granted service connection for invasive lobular carcinoma of the right breast, status post bilateral mastectomy and a 10 percent initial rating for right wrist tendonitis. The appeal was denied for an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for left lower extremity sciatica. Other claims were remanded.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for an earlier effective date prior to March 9, 2020, for increased ratings of his right and left upper extremity cervical radiculopathy.

The Board granted an initial rating of 50 percent for anxiety disorder and 20 percent for radiculopathy of the left lower extremity, but remanded service connection for adjustment disorder with depressed mood with alcohol use disorder.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for left and right lower extremity sciatic nerve radiculopathy, finding that the symptoms did not warrant a rating in excess of 20 percent.

The Board remands the claims for a new VA examination to address the severity of the Veteran's service-connected conditions, including lumbar spine and bilateral knee disabilities, as well as lower extremity radiculopathy.

The Board remands the claims for increased disability ratings for radiculopathy of the bilateral lower extremities and a back disability due to an inadequate VA examination.

The appeal of the initial rating for bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy involving the sciatic nerve was dismissed due to a Notice of Disagreement being filed more than 60 days after the SSOC.

The Veteran is granted special monthly compensation based on the need for regular aid and attendance due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD was granted a rating of 100 percent, and service connection for migraines secondary to PTSD was also granted. The other issues were remanded.

The Board granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, to include anxiety, and denied an increased rating in excess of 10 percent for hearing loss. Several issues related to service connection were remanded.

The Board grants service connection for a low back condition, left lower extremity radiculopathy, and right lower extremity radiculopathy.,The Board grants service connection for a low back condition, left lower extremity radiculopathy, and right lower extremity radiculopathy.,The Board grants service connection for a low back condition, left lower extremity radiculopathy, and right lower extremity radiculopathy.,The Board denies service connection for multiple sclerosis.,The Board denies a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss.,The claim of entitlement to service connection for a nose or throat condition, to include sinusitis and allergic rhinitis, is remanded.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine, left hip strain, and radiculopathy/sciatica in the left and right lower extremities as secondary to metatarsalgia, bilateral feet due to a lack of medical evidence linking these conditions.

The Board denied a compensable rating for right-hand scars and remanded the claims for service connection for a cervical condition and right upper extremity radiculopathy.

The Board granted readjudication of previously denied claims for service connection for right and left foot strain, bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy, left shoulder pain, and insomnia due to new and relevant evidence. The claims for service connection for right and left knee strains, chronic back pain, left hip pain, left hand pain, and left wrist pain were denied as no such evidence was received.

The Board granted service connection for a low back disability, finding that the Veteran's current condition was related to an injury sustained during active duty for training (ACDUTRA) in September 2014. The other claims were remanded for further evaluation.