Radiculopathy & sciatica decisions — 2025

The Board remands the claims for service connection for various conditions due to a pre-decisional duty to assist error, as service treatment records from the Veteran's period of reserve service have not been obtained.

The claims for service connection are remanded to correct a duty to assist error that occurred prior to the July 2020 rating decision on appeal.

The Board remands the issues of entitlement to increased ratings for the Veteran's back disability and lower extremity radiculopathy due to insufficient information regarding the baseline severity of his conditions when discounting the beneficial effects of medication.

The Board denied a rating in excess of 70 percent for PTSD and TDIU, granted a 40 percent rating for degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine, and granted 20 percent ratings for right and left lower extremity radiculopathy.

The Board remands the claims for a supplemental opinion to estimate the current severity of the Veteran's radiculopathy disabilities without considering the ameliorative effects of medication.

The Board granted an increased disability rating of 20 percent for both the thoracolumbar spine degenerative disc disease with lumbosacral strain and left lower extremity lumbar radiculopathy, resolving all doubt in favor of the Veteran.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for left lower extremity radiculopathy and intervertebral disc syndrome, lumbosacral strain, with degenerative disc disease L4-L5 and L5-S1.

The Board granted service connection for left and right upper extremity cervical radiculopathy, an increased rating of 30 percent for cervical strain, and increased ratings of 20 to 30 percent for various tendinopathies and migraine headaches.

The Board denied an increased rating for the Veteran's service-connected left lower extremity radiculopathy, finding that the evidence did not support a higher evaluation.

The Board granted restoration of the 20 percent disability rating for right lower extremity radiculopathy, sciatic nerve (RLE radiculopathy), effective October 19, 2022, but denied a higher rating.

The Board remands the claims for increased ratings and TDIU due to unresolved contradictory examination results.

The Board granted service connection for a lumbar spine disorder, and radiculopathy of the right and left lower extremities as secondary to the service-connected lumbar spine disorder.

The Board dismissed the appeals for service connection for radiculopathy of the right and left lower extremities as they were granted in a prior rating decision, making further appeal moot. The remaining issues are remanded to correct pre-decisional errors.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for headaches and a left arm disorder, to include radiculopathy, due to an inadequate duty to assist error.

The appeals for proposed reductions in the evaluations of sinusitis, degenerative arthritis of the spine with intervertebral disc syndrome, and left lower extremity radiculopathy were dismissed as there was no question of law or fact on appeal.

The Board granted initial ratings of 50 percent for unspecified depressive disorder, 60 percent for degenerative arthritis of the spine with IVDS, status post spinal fusion, and 40 percent for radiculopathy, right lower extremity. The claim for a compensable rating for scar on back was denied, and TDIU was granted.

The Veteran was granted service connection for allergic rhinitis with acute sinusitis and an initial rating of 20 percent for bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy, while the claims for arthritis and increased ratings for lumbosacral strain were remanded.

The appeal was dismissed as the issues have been previously adjudicated by the Board in the Legacy appeals docket.

The Board granted earlier effective dates of April 8, 2020, for the award of service connection for right and left knee strain and tinnitus, as well as ratings of 20 percent for right and left lower extremity radiculopathy.

The Board granted an initial rating of 20 percent for left lower extremity radiculopathy, and service connection for obstructive sleep apnea and tinnitus.