Radiculopathy & sciatica decisions — 2025

The Board remands the issues of entitlement to higher ratings for cervical spine disability, left and right upper extremity radiculopathy, and right shoulder disability due to an outdated medical examination.

The Board denied the Veteran's request for an earlier effective date for the award of service connection for various hip and femoral nerve radiculopathy disabilities, finding that he did not continuously pursue a claim for these conditions.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for service connection for PTSD, right lower extremity sciatic radiculopathy, and left lower extremity sciatic radiculopathy.

The Board granted an earlier effective date of March 16, 2020, for the award of service connection for right and left upper extremity radiculopathy but denied increased ratings for cervical spine disorder and upper extremity radiculopathy.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability, right and left lower extremity radiculopathy, and TDIU for the appellate period prior to November 8, 2022 were granted.

The Board granted service connection for low back disability, left lower extremity radiculopathy, right lower extremity radiculopathy, and urinary incontinence, all as secondary to the Veteran's now service-connected low back disability.

The Board denied the appellant's claims for service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death and entitlement to Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC) under 38 U.S.C. § 1318, finding that the evidence did not support a conclusion that any of the Veteran's service-connected disabilities contributed substantially or materially to his death.

The Board granted restoration of a 40 percent rating for the lumbar spine disability, and service connection for right hip arthritis and bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy/sciatica as secondary to the lumbar spine degenerative arthritis.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU, finding that the evidence did not support higher disability ratings or a TDIU.

The Board remands the claims for higher initial ratings for right lower extremity radiculopathy and left knee instability due to inadequate examinations.

The Board denied service connection for left leg radiculopathy, right leg radiculopathy, and urinary dysfunction as they are not related to the Veteran's active service or any service-connected disability.

The Board denied increased disability ratings for coronary artery disease, back disability, and radiculopathy of the right lower extremity, as well as earlier effective dates for service connection.

The Board remands the claim for a higher rating for right lower extremity sciatic nerve radiculopathy to request an addendum medical opinion.

The Board denied an earlier effective date for service connection for a lumbar spine disability prior to December 18, 2006.

The Board granted readjudication of the claims for service connection for radiculopathy, sciatica dysfunction left and right lower extremities, and sacroiliac dysfunction/degenerative joint disease based on new evidence. The claims for service connection for radiculopathy, sciatica dysfunction left and right lower extremities were remanded for further development.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD and back with associated radiculopathy, preclude him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board granted earlier effective dates for the grant of service connection for left and right lower extremity radiculopathy based on clear and unmistakable error in prior rating decisions.

The Board denied the veteran's request for an earlier effective date for service connection for right thumb, back, deviated septum, and right lower extremity radiculopathy conditions.

The Board denied the claims for initial compensable disability ratings for right upper extremity and posterior trunk scars, but remanded the claims for increased initial disability rating for left lower extremity radiculopathy and initial compensable disability rating for right lower extremity radiculopathy as well as service connection for a bilateral hand and finger condition due to inadequate VA examinations.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for higher ratings for various musculoskeletal conditions, including lumbosacral strain and radiculopathies in both hips and legs.