Radiculopathy & sciatica decisions — 2025

The Board remands the claims for service connection for right shoulder, back condition, bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy, and bilateral hearing loss to obtain additional evidence and a VA examination.

The Board denied earlier effective dates for the service connection of bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy and a higher rating for low back disability but granted initial ratings of 40 percent for left and right lower extremity radiculopathy.

The Board denied service connection for right and left lower extremity radiculopathy, bilateral tinnitus, and a compensable rating for allergic rhinitis based on the evidence not supporting a causal relationship between these conditions and the Veteran's military service.

The Board granted an earlier effective date of March 29, 2006, for the grant of service connection for left and right lower extremity radiculopathy based on secondary service connection to a low-back disability.

The Board dismissed the appeal regarding the proposed reduction of the rating for unspecified depressive disorder with anxious distress and alcohol use disorder, as no reduction had occurred. The reductions in ratings for right lower extremity radiculopathies were proper, and a higher rating for lumbosacral strain was denied.

The Board granted an initial 20 percent rating for right and left sciatic nerve impairments from January 26, 2017 to February 27, 2023.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss, low back disability, left ankle disability, tinnitus, and sciatic nerve impairment due to a lack of evidence supporting a direct relationship between the claimed conditions and the Veteran's military service.

The Board granted a 20 percent rating for left sciatic nerve radiculopathy and remanded the claim for a higher rating for lumbar spine disability due to inadequate examination.

The Board granted the appeal for improper rating reductions of the right and left lower extremity radiculopathy of the sciatic nerve, while denying increased ratings for erectile dysfunction, TMJ disorder, and bruxism.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for depressive disorder and femoral nerve radiculopathy of the right lower extremity, finding that the severity of his symptoms did not warrant higher disability ratings.

The Board remands the claims for increased ratings and earlier effective dates for back, knee, and radiculopathy disabilities as well as obstructive sleep apnea due to a need for new VA examinations.

The Board granted an increased rating of 40 percent for right lower extremity radiculopathy of the sciatic nerve from October 11, 2022 to July 10, 2023 and a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU).

The Board granted service connection for asthma and gastritis, but denied service connection for right lower extremity radiculopathy.

The Board remands the claims for increased ratings and TDIU due to a need for additional evidence through VA examinations.

The Board remands the claims for increased disability ratings for right and left upper extremity radiculopathy due to insufficient evidence.

The Board remands the claims for additional development, including obtaining outstanding treatment records and a prison intake physical examination report.

The Board granted an initial 40 percent disability rating for the Veteran's service-connected right lower extremity sciatic radiculopathy and a TDIU effective April 11, 2023.

The Board granted a 30 percent rating for the Veteran's neck disability prior to June 20, 2018, and separate evaluations for left and right upper extremity radiculopathy prior to January 7, 2016.

The Board remands the claims for a lumbar spine disability and associated radiculopathies to obtain additional information regarding the qualifications of the VA examiner who addressed the Veteran's disabilities in January 2025.

The Veteran's appeal for an earlier effective date for the awards of service connection and TDIU was dismissed due to a final Board decision in December 2021.