Radiculopathy & sciatica decisions — 2025

The Board remands the claims for hernia repair residuals, lumbar spine arthritis with intervertebral disc syndrome, and left lower extremity radiculopathy due to deficiencies in the March 2022 VA examination reports.

The Board granted earlier effective dates for the Veteran's radiculopathy of the right and left lower extremities, as well as a scar on her right knee. However, it denied earlier effective dates for her back and right knee conditions.

The Board granted effective dates of April 15, 2020, for service connection for left and right lower extremity radiculopathy, bilateral ankle sprain, and lumbar strain with IVDS.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for the Veteran's cause of death and entitlement to DIC benefits due to an inadequate medical opinion regarding the relationship between the Veteran's service-connected conditions and his death.

The Board granted service connection for a neck disability and bilateral upper extremity radiculopathy as secondary to the now service-connected neck disability, resolving reasonable doubt in favor of the Veteran.

The Board denied initial disability ratings in excess of the assigned percentages for various conditions, granted a 20 percent rating for right lower extremity radiculopathy and a 10 percent rating for dry eye syndrome, and remanded several claims for further development.

The Board granted increased ratings of 50 percent for the service-connected thoracolumbar spine disability and 20 percent for right lower extremity radiculopathy, but remanded a claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder.

The Veteran is granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities.

The Board remands the claims for a low back disability rating in excess of 20 percent, service connection for sciatica as secondary to the low back disability, and service connection for a right knee disability due to inadequate medical examinations.

The Board granted a 20 percent rating for left lower extremity femoral nerve radiculopathy, denied an increased rating in excess of 10 percent for right lower extremity sciatic nerve radiculopathy, and restored the 40 percent rating for left lower extremity sciatic, musculocutaneous, and external cutaneous nerve radiculopathy. The Board also remanded claims for service connection.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for earlier effective dates and initial ratings, finding that the evidence did not support an earlier date of entitlement or a higher rating.

The Board remands the claims for a back disorder, sciatica, and kidney stones to correct pre-decisional duty to assist errors.

The Board remands the Veteran's claims for a new VA examination to correct a pre-decisional duty to assist error.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for unspecified depressive disorder and bilateral sensorineural hearing loss, as well as remanded several other claims.

The Board remands the claims for a lumbar spine disability and radiculopathy affecting both lower extremities due to missing medical records from VA facilities and an incomplete report of an MRI scan.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for various service-connected conditions, finding that the evidence did not support higher disability ratings under applicable criteria.

The Board denied initial evaluations in excess of 20 percent for radiculopathy of the bilateral lower extremities affecting the sciatic nerve, as there was no evidence to support a finding of complete paralysis or severe incomplete paralysis with marked muscle atrophy.

The Board granted an effective date of June 15, 2021, for a 40 percent evaluation for the chronic orthopedic symptoms of lumbar spine degenerative arthritis, degenerative disc disease (DDD), and granted a total rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disability (TDIU) effective October 6, 2023.

The Board denied various claims for increased ratings, earlier effective dates, and other benefits due to the lack of evidence supporting a higher rating or an earlier effective date.

The Board remands the issues of entitlement to increased ratings for a back disability, right leg radiculopathy, and right knee disability for additional development.