Radiculopathy & sciatica decisions — 2025

The Board granted restoration of a 20 percent disability rating for osteoarthritis with degenerative disc disease of the cervical spine and tenosynovitis of the thoracic spine, but denied a compensable rating for post herpetic neuralgia with neuritis of the left chest wall. The Board also denied effective dates prior to July 18, 2023, for increased ratings and service connection.

The Board granted the restoration of a 40 percent disability rating for anterior L1 compression fracture effective November 16, 2020, and an initial increased disability rating of 20 percent for left leg sciatic radiculopathy throughout the period on appeal.

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

The Board granted an initial increased disability rating of 40 percent, but no higher, for a low back disability and earlier effective dates for the grants of service connection for bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for lower back pain and sciatica to correct a duty to assist error, as an adequate medical opinion was not obtained prior to the rating decision.

The Board granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder and hypertension, but remanded several other claims related to the low back and various peripheral nerves.

The Board granted an effective date of August 28, 2018 for the award of service connection for left and right upper extremity radiculopathy.

The Veteran is granted a total disability rating for compensation purposes based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities and basic eligibility for Dependents' Educational Assistance benefits.

The Board remands the claims for a higher rating for left leg radiculopathy, TDIU, and SMC at the 's' rate due to an inadequate examination and inextricable interwoven issues.

The Board granted an initial rating of 80 percent for sciatic radiculopathy of the left lower extremity and special monthly compensation (SMC) at the 'k' rate, both effective October 22, 2019.

The Board denied service connection for a right hip disability, denied increased ratings for RLE radiculopathy and hypertension, and denied an initial compensable rating for the residuals of a right hip ganglion cyst removal.

The Board granted the restoration of a 40 percent rating for left lower extremity radiculopathy, from January 8, 2024, due to an inadequate examination. The other claims were remanded for further development.

The Board denied service connection for a left elbow disability and remanded several other claims, including those for allergic rhinitis, chronic fatigue syndrome, chronic sinusitis, heart disease, low back disability, left lower extremity radiculopathy, and an acquired psychiatric disability.

The Board granted a 50 percent disability rating for migraine headaches, effective January 1, 2024, and denied earlier effective dates for the awards of service connection and increased ratings for various conditions.

The Board denied an increased disability rating in excess of 40 percent for right upper extremity radiculopathy and remanded the claims for higher ratings for post operative residuals, multiple dislocations of the right shoulder with degenerative arthritis, and degenerative arthritis and degenerative disc disease of the cervical spine, as well as a TDIU claim.

The Board granted a 70% rating for PTSD and unspecified anxiety disorder, as well as service connection for OSA, IVDS, lumbosacral strain, and right lower extremity radiculopathy.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his left shoulder rotator cuff tear, lumbar spondylosis with spinal stenosis, and right lower extremity (RLE) radiculopathy involving the femoral nerve.

The Board denied increased ratings for the Veteran's left wrist degenerative arthritis, migraines, bilateral hearing loss, eye disability, and sciatica of the right lower extremity. However, it granted a 40 percent rating for back disability, service connection for erectile dysfunction secondary to the back disability, and special monthly compensation based on loss of use of a creative organ.

The Board granted an effective date of September 15, 2022 for the increased rating of 40 percent for low back pain and August 7, 2023 for service connection for left lower extremity radiculopathy.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for degenerative arthritis of cervical spine, left upper extremity radiculopathy, right upper extremity radiculopathy, and scar on neck as secondary to a lumbar spine disability due to an inadequate VA examination.