Radiculopathy & sciatica decisions — 2025

The Board denied earlier effective dates for the grants of service connection and increased ratings for various radiculopathies and cervical spine degenerative arthritis with IVDS.

The Board granted earlier effective dates for service connection of lumbar scars and left lower extremity radiculopathy, but denied an earlier effective date for right lower extremity radiculopathy. The Board also denied a compensable rating for lumbar scars and higher ratings for both lower extremity radiculopathies and the lumbar spine disability, while granting TDIU from December 21, 2011.

The Board granted an initial increased rating of 20 percent, but no higher, for left lumbar radiculopathy, sciatica, effective February 28, 2020. The appeal for an increased rating for obstructive sleep apnea with restrictive lung disease was dismissed.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal, and the Board dismissed the claims for service connection for right and left knee disabilities, left upper extremity radiculopathy, and a higher initial rating for back disability.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for sciatica of both lower extremities to correct a pre-decisional duty to assist error.

The Board remands the claims for an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for a back disability and service connection for bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy as secondary to the back disability due to duty to assist errors.

The Board remands the claims for further development, including new examinations and additional documentation to address deficiencies in previous evaluations.

The Board remands the issues for a new medical examination to address specific deficiencies in the previous VA examination report.

The Board granted service connection for right foot pes planus as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected right foot calcaneal spur and granted increased ratings for PTSD, right foot calcaneal spur, degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine (including intervertebral disc syndrome, stenosis), left lower extremity radiculopathy, sciatic nerve, right lower extremity radiculopathy, sciatic nerve, left lower extremity radiculopathy, femoral nerve, and right lower extremity radiculopathy, femoral nerve.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD with depression, anxiety, and alcohol use disorder is granted a 70 percent rating effective May 3, 1994.

The Board denied service connection for a left hip disability, a left sciatic nerve disability, and remanded the claim for GERD due to insufficient evidence.

The Board remands the veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU due to outstanding SSA disability benefit records.

The Board granted an effective date of April 7, 2008, for the award of service connection for cervical spine degenerative arthritis, lumbar spine degenerative arthritis, and left lower extremity radiculopathy.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for a sleep disorder, low back disability, and left lower extremity disability to ensure that VA's duty to assist is properly fulfilled.

The Board granted service connection for degenerative joint disease of the cervical spine and radiculopathy affecting both upper and lower extremities, while dismissing the claim for cervicogenic headaches.

The Board remands the claims for an initial increased rating in excess of 10 percent for left lower radiculopathy and an increased rating in excess of 10 percent for lumbar spine condition to correct duty to assist errors.

The Board granted a disability rating of 40 percent for radiculopathy of the right lower extremity (sciatic nerve) and 20 percent for a right hip disability, effective from September 22, 2019, and October 23, 2019 respectively.

The Board denied the Veteran's appeal for an initial compensable disability rating for left hip strain with limitation of extension and remanded several other service connection claims.

The Board denied higher ratings for the Veteran's low back disability and lower extremity radiculopathies, as well as earlier effective dates for TDIU and DEA awards.

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