Radiculopathy & sciatica decisions — 2025

The Board denied the claim for an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for right lower extremity radiculopathy, finding that the evidence did not support a higher rating.

The Board granted the appellant's eligibility for direct payment of attorney fees based on an earlier effective date for right ankle disability, but denied it for back disability and bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy.

The Board denied a rating in excess of 30 percent for the Veteran's service-connected chronic post-traumatic headaches, finding that his symptoms did not meet the criteria for a higher rating.

The Board remands the matter for a full VA examination to clarify the symptomatology of the service-connected right and left lower extremity sciatic nerve disability, specifically regarding neuritis.

The Board granted an earlier effective date of April 6, 2014, for the award of a separate, increased 20 percent disability rating for left upper extremity radiculopathy.

The Veteran was granted a disability evaluation of 20 percent for lumbar spine strain residuals prior to February 10, 2020, and entitlement to TDIU. The rating in excess of 20 percent on and after February 10, 2020, for the same condition was denied.

The Board granted restoration of the 10 percent rating for radiculopathy, sciatic, right lower extremity and the 40 percent rating for radiculopathy, sciatic, left lower extremity.

The Board remands the matter for a retrospective opinion regarding the degree of paralysis shown throughout the entire period on appeal.

The Board remands the claims for a rating in excess of 20 percent for a left knee disability and service connection for various conditions due to a pre-decisional duty to assist error.

The Board remands the claims for service connection and denies an initial rating in excess of 30 percent for irritable bowel syndrome.

The Veteran's lumbosacral strain with IVDS was granted a rating of 40 percent, but no higher, from February 16, 2021. The claims for increased ratings for right and left lower extremity radiculopathy were denied.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for right and left lower extremity radiculopathy and lumbar spine degenerative disc disease, finding that the evidence did not support a higher rating.

The Veteran's PTSD was granted a 70% evaluation, and TDIU was granted. Other claims were denied or remanded.

The Board granted service connection for a lumbar spine disability and a left hip disability, both secondary to the Veteran's service-connected bilateral knee disability.

The Board granted service connection for cervical strain, resolving reasonable doubt in the Veteran's favor. The claims for secondary service connection for bilateral upper extremity radiculopathy were remanded due to an inadequate VA examination.

The appeal on the issue of whether January 7, 2021, rating decision, which granted service connection for radiculopathy of the left upper extremity effective January 29, 2020, is the product of clear and unmistakable error (CUE) is dismissed.

The Board granted service connection for lumbosacral strain, right lower extremity radiculopathy, and cervical strain based on the evidence being approximately evenly balanced as to whether these conditions began during active service.

The Board granted service connection for a left leg sciatic nerve disability and remanded the issue of entitlement to individual unemployability prior to February 1, 2021 on an extraschedular basis.

The Board granted an initial rating of 60 percent, but no higher, for left lower extremity radiculopathy and 20 percent, but no higher, for right lower extremity radiculopathy.

The Board remands the claim for service connection for left lower extremity radiculopathy as new and relevant evidence has been received.