Radiculopathy & sciatica decisions — 2025

The Board denied earlier effective dates for the awards of a 70 percent rating for PTSD, TDIU, DEA eligibility, and ratings for lumbosacral strain with degenerative disc disease, left lower extremity radiculopathy of the sciatic nerve, and left lower extremity radiculopathy of the femoral nerve.

The Board granted increased initial ratings for cervical spine strain and cervicothoracic radiculopathy of both upper extremities, as well as service connection for right hand and wrist pain. The left hand disability was denied.

The Veteran is granted eligibility for assistance in acquiring specially adapted housing due to his permanent and total service-connected disability affecting both lower extremities, which precludes locomotion without the aid of assistive devices.

The Board denied increased disability ratings for the Veteran's degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine, chronic left and right lower extremity radiculopathy, surgical scar of the lumbar spine, and tinnitus.

The Board denied service connection for left ankle lateral collateral ligament sprain, lumbago with sciatica, and left hip degenerative change as the evidence did not support a causal relationship between these conditions and the Veteran's active service.

The Board remands the issues of whether the character of the Appellant's discharge from service is a bar to VA benefits, and entitlement to service connection for bilateral flat foot (pes planus), herniated disk at L5/S1 status post microdiscectomy, and left lower extremity lumbar radiculopathy.

The Board remands the case to obtain outstanding VA treatment records from specified physicians, as the issue of an earlier effective date for a 10 percent rating for left lower extremity radiculopathy is inextricably intertwined with another claim.

The Board granted a 20 percent rating for the right hand scar from January 31, 2019, and denied other claims.

The Board dismissed the claims for a total disability evaluation based on individual unemployability and an initial evaluation in excess of 10 percent for bilateral plantar fasciitis, denied an initial evaluation in excess of 70 percent for major depressive disorder with generalized anxiety disorder, and remanded the claims for initial evaluations in excess of 20 percent for lumbar spine disability, left lower extremity radiculopathy, and right lower extremity radiculopathy.

The Veteran's diffuse large B-cell non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (DLBCL) is granted, while other claims for service connection are withdrawn or remanded.

The Board granted service connection for radiculopathy of the right lower extremity and erectile dysfunction, to include as secondary to a back condition, for the purposes of accrued benefits. The Veteran's spouse was also granted special monthly compensation based on loss of use.

The Board denied service connection for a back disability, lower left extremity nerve disability (including radiculopathy), and left upper extremity nerve disability (including carpel tunnel syndrome) as the evidence did not support a finding that these conditions were incurred in or caused by active service.

The Veteran's appeal for a rating in excess of 20 percent for a lumbar spine disability and a rating in excess of 10 percent for right lower extremity radiculopathy was withdrawn by the Veteran's authorized representative.

The Board remands the issues of entitlement to higher disability ratings for low back disability and bilateral lower extremity sciatic nerve radiculopathy, as well as a claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder secondary to the low back disability.

The Board denied increased ratings for the Veteran's right knee degenerative joint disease with limitation of flexion and extension, but granted a 20 percent rating for left and right lower extremity radiculopathy. The 10 percent rating for right knee instability was restored.

The Board remands the claims for a disability rating in excess of 10 percent for right and left lower lumbar radiculopathy to obtain an adequate medical opinion regarding the severity of the disabilities.

The Board denied increased ratings for right and left lower extremity radiculopathy, a higher rating for the right shoulder disability, but granted restoration of a 40 percent evaluation for thoracolumbar spine arthritis.

The Board granted a rating of 20 percent for right and left lower extremity radiculopathy associated with degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine, but remanded the claim for an increased rating for degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine.

The Board denied the claims for earlier effective dates for service connection and increased ratings, finding that the earliest possible effective date was August 1, 2022, based on the Veteran's intent to file a claim.

The Board granted an earlier effective date of September 10, 2012, for the grant of service connection for left and right lower extremity radiculopathy but denied a higher initial rating for left lower extremity radiculopathy since March 7, 2019.