Radiculopathy & sciatica decisions — 2025

The Board denied service connection for degenerative changes in the neck and right upper extremity radiculopathy, but granted a 30 percent disability rating for bilateral pes cavus from August 2, 2012 to June 7, 2024.

The claims for increased ratings and TDIU are remanded to ensure compliance with previous Board directives, including obtaining additional medical examinations.

The Board granted a 40 percent evaluation for status post lumbar spinal fusion from April 25, 2023, to June 10, 2023, and denied increased evaluations for the other conditions.

The Veteran is granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) effective from May 2, 2019, to November 9, 2021, and for PTSD alone effective December 2, 2021.

The appeal for service connection for degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine, left lower extremity radiculopathy, and posttraumatic stress disorder is dismissed due to the Veteran's death during the pendency of the appeal.

The Board remands the service connection claims for right and left upper extremity radiculopathy to obtain additional medical evidence.

The appeal concerning the disability ratings for thoracolumbar strain with scoliosis and various radiculopathies is dismissed as the appellant withdrew the appeal.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for an earlier effective date, a higher disability rating for major depressive disorder, and a higher disability rating for right upper extremity cervical radiculopathy.

The Board granted a 20 percent rating for left lower extremity radiculopathy of the sciatic nerve, finding that the Veteran's symptoms more nearly approximated moderate incomplete paralysis.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities precluded him from securing and maintaining substantially gainful employment consistent with his education and occupational experience, effective July 29, 2016.

The Board granted service connection for a lower back condition, OSA as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected back condition, and chronic bronchitis. The claims for hip arthritis, sciatic neuritis, and unspecified persistent depressive disorder; generalized anxiety disorder were remanded.

The Board granted service connection for right and left upper extremity radiculopathy but denied increased ratings for lumbosacral strain with degenerative arthritis of the spine and IVDS, a scar associated with it, and dismissed claims for other conditions.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for earlier effective dates and increased ratings, as well as special monthly compensation based on housebound criteria.

The Board dismissed the Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings due to improper concurrent election of multiple review options.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for cervical radiculopathy, herniated disc, and spinal stenosis to obtain VA examinations to determine their nature and etiologies.

The Board granted an effective date of February 19, 2020, for special monthly compensation (SMC) based on housebound criteria.

The Board granted restoration of a 20 percent disability rating for right lower extremity radiculopathy associated with degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine and IVDS, effective March 19, 2022, while denying higher ratings for other conditions. The Board also granted TDIU since February 16, 2021.

The veteran withdrew the appeal, and all claims were dismissed.

The Veteran's unspecified depressive disorder is rated at 50 percent, and his hemorrhoids are not compensable. Other claims for increased ratings for the hips, back, and right lower extremity radiculopathy are remanded.

The Board denied an initial compensable rating for tension headache and remanded the claims for service connection for unspecified abdominal pain, right carpal tunnel syndrome, left carpal tunnel syndrome, low back disorder, left leg paralysis of the sciatic nerve (secondary to a service-connected condition), left foot plantar fasciitis (secondary to a service-connected condition), and tinnitus.