Radiculopathy & sciatica decisions — 2025

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for hypertension, degenerative arthritis of the spine and IVDS, right lower extremity radiculopathy, and left lower extremity radiculopathy.

The Board denied increased ratings for radiculopathy of the left upper extremity, residuals of a prosthetic replacement of the left shoulder joint, and a left upper extremity scar.

The Board granted earlier effective dates for service connection and TDIU, restored a higher rating for a back condition, and remanded several other issues.

The Board granted initial disability ratings of 20 percent for the Veteran's service-connected left and right lower extremity radiculopathy, sciatic nerve. The claims for increased ratings and service connection were remanded.

The Board granted service connection for rhinitis but denied service connection for bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy as secondary to a low back disability.

The Board granted service connection for emphysema and sciatica of the right lower extremity, denied a compensable rating for a right shoulder surgical scar, denied an increased rating for PTSD, granted TDIU from May 23, 2024, and remanded a claim for a higher rating for right shoulder strain.

The Board dismissed the appeals for service connection for bilateral femoral radiculopathy, bilateral sciatica lower leg, and low back condition due to duplicative filings under the Appeals Modernization Act.

The Board remands the matter to correct pre-decisional errors, specifically for a more recent VA examination focused on the Veteran's peripheral nerves.

The Board granted an initial rating of 20 percent for degenerative disc disease (DDD)/intervertebral disc syndrome (IVDS) prior to July 2, 2019, but denied a higher rating for the entire period. The other claims for increased ratings were denied.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy and a rating in excess of 10 percent for right knee joint osteoarthritis status-post ACL tear and medial meniscus tear surgical repair, but granted separate 10 percent ratings for right knee instability and symptomatic cartilage removal.

The Board denied various claims for increased ratings and effective dates, including those for tinnitus, wrist scars, lower extremity radiculopathy, bulimia nervosa, psychiatric disability, benign neutropenia, herpes II, GERD, plantar fasciitis, and TDIU.

The appeal was dismissed due to the Veteran's death.

The Board granted initial disability ratings of 70 percent for major depressive disorder, and 20 percent each for left and right lower extremity neuropathy/radiculopathy. The lumbar spine disability was denied a higher rating, and the effective dates for service connection were adjusted.

The Board granted service connection for Parkinson's disease and related conditions, including Bradykinesia, instability, dysphagia, dysarthria, tremors, facial paralysis, an acquired psychiatric disorder, bowel incontinence, bladder incontinence, and radiculopathy of all four extremities, based on presumptive service connection due to exposure to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune.

The Board granted service connection for right knee degenerative joint disease, status post total knee arthroscopy, and left and right lower extremity radiculopathy, all of which were found to be caused by the Veteran's service-connected conditions.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for an initial compensable rating for service-connected allergic rhinitis and remanded the claim for service connection for cervical strain.

The Board remands the claims for increased disability evaluations for right lower extremity radiculopathy of the sciatic nerve to obtain a new VA examination and medical opinion that addresses the severity and impact of the Veteran's condition from October 15, 2009 through the present.

The appeal is remanded to obtain new VA examinations and/or retrospective medical opinions, as the previous ones were based on inadequate evidence.

The Board granted service connection for right and left lower extremity radiculopathy, but denied service connection for peripheral neuropathy. The Veteran was also awarded a 40 percent rating for his radiculopathy.

The Board granted service connection for sinusitis under the PACT Act and remanded other claims for further development.