Radiculopathy & sciatica decisions — 2025

The Board remands the claims for service connection for asthma, cataracts, congestive heart failure, low back pain, and bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy due to a duty to assist error related to lost or destroyed service treatment records.

The appeal for an initial disability rating higher than 10 percent for tinnitus was dismissed, and the claim for an initial disability rating higher than 0 percent for hearing loss was denied. Several claims for service connection were remanded.

The Veteran's right knee patellofemoral pain syndrome is rated at 20 percent, and the claims for service connection for degenerative disc disease, other than intervertebral disc syndrome, and lumbosacral strain; right lower extremity radiculopathy; and left knee patellofemoral pain syndrome are remanded.

The Board granted an initial rating of 20 percent for the Veteran's service-connected right lower extremity radiculopathy (sciatic nerve), effective April 1, 2023.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings and earlier effective dates, finding no evidence of a worsening of his conditions that would warrant an increase in compensation.

The Veteran's right knee patellofemoral pain syndrome is rated at 20 percent, and the claims for service connection for degenerative disc disease, other than intervertebral disc syndrome, and lumbosacral strain; right lower extremity radiculopathy; and left knee patellofemoral pain syndrome are remanded.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for various conditions as they are inextricably intertwined with pending lumbar and cervical spine issues.

The Board granted service connection for a cervical spine disability as secondary to the service-connected degenerative arthritis of the spine and increased initial disability evaluations of 20 percent, but not more, for left lower extremity (LLE) radiculopathy and right lower extremity (RLE) radiculopathy.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for a foot condition, to include athlete's foot and tinea pedis, as well as radiculopathy of both lower extremities and spondylolisthesis due to insufficient evidence.

The Board denied service connection for radiculopathy of the right and left upper extremities, dismissed the appeal seeking service connection for sleep apnea, and remanded the claim for service connection for headaches.

The Board denied service connection for chronic fatigue syndrome, denied increased ratings for irritable bowel syndrome with GERD and allergic rhinitis, and remanded claims for increased ratings for a low back disability and right lower extremity lumbar radiculopathy.

The Board granted service connection for left ankle disability manifested by pain and disability manifested by chest pain, but denied service connection for hemoptysis and left lower extremity radiculopathy. The claims of service connection for dizziness as secondary to tinnitus and right lower extremity disability were remanded.

The Board denied an effective date earlier than May 20, 2022 for the grant of service connection for right upper extremity radiculopathy as it is not factually ascertainable that the Veteran had this condition prior to that date.

The Board granted service connection for a neurological disorder of the right and left upper extremities, to include cervical radiculopathy, resolving doubt in favor of the Veteran.

The Board remands the issues of entitlement to higher ratings for degenerative disc disease and bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy due to insufficient medical evidence.

The Veteran was granted a 40 percent rating for right lower extremity sciatica from September 11, 2022 through March 4, 2025, but a higher rating is not warranted prior to that period or after.

The Board granted service connection for a back disability, left hip disability, right hip disability, and both lower extremity radiculopathies but denied an increased rating for bilateral hearing loss.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for various disabilities, including left and right knee, shoulder, back, ankle, elbow, and sciatica conditions, due to a failure to provide adequate VA examinations and incomplete verification of National Guard service.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for initial disability ratings higher than 20 percent for left lower extremity radiculopathy (femoral nerve) and sciatic nerve.

The Board granted an initial rating of 40 percent for degenerative arthritis of the lumbosacral spine, but denied higher ratings for left and right lower extremity radiculopathy.