Radiculopathy & sciatica decisions — 2025

The Veteran is entitled to a total disability rating for individual unemployability (TDIU) from June 2, 2010, to March 13, 2014.

The Board denied service connection for left and right lower extremity radiculopathy as there is no evidence linking the conditions to the Veteran's active duty or any service-connected disability.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for his thoracolumbar and cervical spine disabilities, left and right lower extremity radiculopathy, and lumbar laminectomy procedures scar.

The Board denied service connection for multiple conditions, including the lumbar spine disorder, cervical spine disorder, shoulder disorders, cauda equina syndrome, neurogenic bowel disorder, erectile dysfunction, and various radiculopathies. The dental disorder and left ankle disorder were dismissed.

The Board granted service connection for a lumbar spine disability, bilateral shoulder condition, bilateral elbow condition, lower extremity loss of sensation, and cervical spine disability with cervical radiculopathy.

The Board denied earlier effective dates for the award of service connection and remanded claims for increased ratings due to insufficient evidence regarding the impact of medication on the severity of the Veteran's conditions.

The Board granted service connection for sinusitis pursuant to the PACT Act and increased ratings for cervical strain and degenerative disc disease, left sided cervical radiculopathy, irritable bowel syndrome, and left lateral collateral ligament sprain.

The Board granted restoration of the prior ratings for right and left upper extremity radiculopathy, effective January 1, 2016, but denied earlier effective dates for increased ratings.

The Board denied the Veteran's appeal for an increased rating for right lower extremity radiculopathy and remanded the issue of an evaluation in excess of 20 percent for DDD of the lumbar spine.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings and earlier effective dates, finding that the evidence did not support a higher rating or an earlier effective date.

The Board denied higher ratings for the Veteran's lumbar spine disability and associated radiculopathy, except for a 40 percent rating from April 30, 2008, to October 26, 2010.

The Board denied earlier effective dates for the grants of service connection and ratings for back disability, bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy, and urinary incontinence and frequency. However, a 40 percent rating was granted for left lower extremity radiculopathy from November 1, 2021.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for earlier effective dates, increased ratings, and service connection, with some issues being remanded.

The Board remands the claims for higher ratings and a compensable evaluation due to inadequate examinations that do not comply with Correia v. McDonald, 28 Vet. App. 158 (2016).

The Board remands the claims for higher disability ratings for multiple service-connected conditions, including lumbosacral strain and temporomandibular joint disorder (TMJ), due to inadequate VA examinations.

The Board granted service connection for tinnitus and denied a rating in excess of 10 percent for chronic left knee strain. The claims for service connection for back disability, bilateral sciatica, left ankle disability, left foot disability, and psychiatric disability were remanded.

The Board granted restoration of service connection for intervertebral disc syndrome and left lower extremity radiculopathy, finding that the original decisions to sever these conditions were improper.

The Board granted service connection for a cervical spine disorder and left upper extremity radiculopathy as secondary to the cervical spine disorder.

The Board granted restoration of a 20 percent rating for the lumbar spine disability effective September 14, 2020, and denied increased ratings for other conditions.

The Board granted service connection for left lower extremity radiculopathy and denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, sleep apnea, periodic leg movement disorder, and a higher rating for thoracolumbar spondylosis.