Radiculopathy & sciatica decisions — 2025

The Board dismissed the veteran's appeal for service connection and effective date claims due to an impermissible concurrent election of review options.

The Veteran was granted an effective date of November 1, 2021, for the assignment of a 70 percent rating for PTSD. The other claims were denied.

The Board denied an earlier effective date for service connection and a higher rating for left lower extremity radiculopathy, finding that the earliest date of entitlement was May 17, 2018.

The Board granted service connection for an anxiety condition and remanded the claims for sciatica and herniated disc evaluation.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for a low back disability, neck disability, left leg radiculopathy, left arm radiculopathy, and right arm radiculopathy to correct a duty to assist error.

The Board granted an effective date of February 21, 2020, for the award of a 30 percent rating for cervical spine disability and a separate 20 percent rating for right upper extremity radiculopathy.

The Board granted service connection for right upper extremity cervical radiculopathy as secondary to the service-connected cervical spine DDD, and increased the rating of post concussive headache associated with TBI to 50 percent effective August 20, 2020.

The Board denied service connection for coronary artery disease, posttraumatic stress disorder, and a cervical spine disability. A 40 percent rating was granted for radiculopathy of the left lower extremity.

The Board denied an increased rating for the lumbosacral strain with degenerative disc disease, IVDS and herniated disc but granted increased ratings of 20 percent for bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy (femoral and sciatic nerves) and remanded service connection for a bilateral hearing loss disability.

The Board granted restoration of the 20 percent disability rating for radiculopathy affecting the right lower extremity, finding that the reduction was improper. The Board also remanded a claim for service connection for a left knee disability.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for various conditions, including tinnitus and headaches, due to a duty-to-assist error regarding VA examinations.

The Board remands the claims for an initial evaluation more than 20 percent for degenerative arthritis of cervical spine and more than 30 percent for right upper extremity (RUE) radiculopathy and carpal tunnel syndrome to ensure adequate examinations are conducted.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss, and remanded the claims for a left knee disorder, right knee disorder, low back disorder, and right lower extremity radiculopathy.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for a TDIU and earlier effective dates for service connection of various disabilities, finding that the evidence did not support entitlement to these benefits.

The Veteran withdrew the appeal regarding severance of service connection for right and left lower sciatic radiculopathy and an increased rating for lumbosacral DDD during a hearing, and these issues are dismissed.

The appeal was denied for an initial disability rating in excess of 30 percent for peripheral vestibular damage with vertigo of the left ear, and remanded for further evaluation of other conditions.

The Board remands the claims for further development and to address whether right lower extremity radicopathy was properly before the Board, and if so, adjudicate the claim.

The Board denied a higher initial rating for the Veteran's service-connected left lower extremity sciatica, finding that it does not meet the criteria for a rating higher than 40 percent.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for low back and lower extremity radiculopathies due to an inadequate medical opinion regarding aggravation of a pre-existing condition.

The Board denied increased ratings for the veteran's left shoulder and neck disabilities, but granted an earlier effective date for right upper extremity radiculopathy as secondary to a service-connected neck disability.