Radiculopathy & sciatica decisions — 2025

The Board granted service connection for tinnitus and assigned a 20% rating for the Veteran's low back condition, while denying increased ratings for her psychiatric and neurological conditions.

The Board remands the claim for a new VA examination to address whether the Veteran's bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy is related to his service-connected chronic thoracolumbar spine strain.

The Board granted a 20 percent disability rating for the back disability prior to April 13, 2017, and a 40 percent rating from August 2, 2019, to December 30, 2019, but denied higher ratings in other periods. The Board also remanded several service connection claims.

The Board dismissed the claims for service connection as the Veteran passed away during the pendency of the appeal.

The Board denied service connection for dental residuals of full mouth rehabilitation and remanded the claims for a disability rating in excess of 10 percent for GERD with hiatal hernia, a separate compensable rating for cholecystectomy residuals, a compensable rating for recurrent uveitis, and separate ratings for left and right lower extremity radiculopathy.

The Board granted service connection for right lower extremity radiculopathy as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected back disability and granted increased ratings for left lower extremity radiculopathy and low back disability in certain periods.

The Board remands the claims for a rating higher than 10 percent for degenerative arthritis of the spine and an initial rating higher than 10 percent for sciatic radiculopathy of the left lower extremity due to insufficient medical evidence.

The Board denied a higher rating for the Veteran's low back disability and remanded issues related to right lower extremity radiculopathy and service connection.

The Board granted service connection for a left chest condition, to include left brachial plexus injury, nerve irritation/trigger point, brachial plexus neuropathy on the left, and radiculopathy/thoracic outlet syndrome, claimed as left chest pain.

The Board remands the claims for an initial rating in excess of 20 percent prior to April 24, 2024, and a rating in excess of 40 percent from April 24, 2024 onwards, for further development.

The Board denied the motion to reverse or revise on the basis of clear and unmistakable error (CUE) a June 27, 2005 rating decision that did not grant service connection for radiculopathy of the right lower extremity and left lower extremity secondary to a service-connected lumbar spine disability.

The Board denied earlier effective dates and higher ratings for the Veteran's left and right lower extremity radiculopathy involving incomplete paralysis of the sciatic nerve, finding no factually ascertainable increase in disability within one year prior to the July 2023 claim.

The Board granted an earlier effective date of August 23, 2018, for the award of service connection for lumbar spine degenerative changes with intervertebral disc syndrome and dextroscoliosis, as well as for lumbar radiculopathy of the left lower extremity, sciatic nerve.

The Board granted restoration of a 40 percent rating for the Veteran's low back disability and restored 20 percent ratings for sciatic nerve radiculopathies in both lower extremities, effective September 28, 2023. The decision also denied higher ratings for these conditions.

The Board remands the claims for increased ratings and TDIU due to deficiencies in the VA examinations and missing records.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for left and right lower extremity radiculopathy, femoral nerve, as the evidence did not demonstrate severe or complete paralysis.

The Board granted an effective date of May 9, 2018, for the grant of service connection for right and left upper extremity radiculopathy.

The Board denied an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for left lower extremity radiculopathy, finding the evidence did not support a higher rating.

The Veteran is granted eligibility for assistance in acquiring specially adapted housing but denied eligibility for a special home adaptation grant.

The Board granted restoration of the 10 percent rating for radiculopathy involving the femoral nerve in both lower extremities and denied an increased rating for lumbar degenerative joint and disc disease, intervertebral disc syndrome (back disability).