Radiculopathy & sciatica decisions — 2025

The Board remands the claims for service connection for a low back disorder and radiculopathy, right lower extremity, to obtain an addendum opinion addressing the nature and etiology of any current back disorder and associated radiculopathy.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal for all service connection claims.

The Board remands the claims for an initial rating in excess of 40 percent for a low back disability, an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for sciatic nerve radiculopathy of the left lower extremity, and entitlement to a TDIU due to pre-decisional duty to assist errors.

The appeal for service connection for low back condition, left lower extremity radiculopathy, and right lower extremity radiculopathy has been withdrawn by the Veteran.

The Board denied an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for right lower extremity sciatic radiculopathy, granted a separate rating for neuralgia of the right sciatic nerve, and denied an initial compensable rating for chronic nasal congestion. The Board also remanded entitlement to service connection for a right hip condition.

The Board granted restoration of a 40 percent disability rating for the low back and sciatic radiculopathy of the right lower extremity, denied increased ratings for these conditions, and granted an effective date of October 11, 2022, for the award of service connection for femoral radiculopathy of the bilateral lower extremities. The Board also granted a TDIU and DEA benefits from March 16, 2015.

The Board granted a 30 percent disability evaluation for migraine headaches and denied increased ratings for other conditions, including degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine with compression fracture L3, spondylosis L4, lumbar strain, and intervertebral disc syndrome (IVDS), among others.

The Board restored the 40% rating for lumbosacral strain with degenerative arthritis, denied earlier effective dates and higher ratings for bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy, and denied a TDIU.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for an earlier effective date for service connection for multiple sclerosis and other conditions, as VA did not receive a claim within one year of separation from service or prior to February 6, 2023.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for a higher rating, additional special monthly compensation, and total disability based on individual unemployability.

The Board granted an earlier effective date of January 31, 2022, for the grant of service connection for left and right lower extremity radiculopathy.

The Board granted service connection for radiculopathy of the left and right lower extremities, as well as a back scar, secondary to the Veteran's lumbosacral strain. The appeal challenging the propriety of the combined evaluation of 80 percent was denied.

The Board remands the service connection claims for intervertebral disc syndrome (IVDS) of the lumbar spine, left lower extremity sciatica secondary to IVDS, bilateral plantar fasciitis, a left ankle condition, a left foot condition, and hypertension due to duty-to-assist errors.

The appeal was dismissed due to the Veteran's death while it was pending.

The Board granted an earlier effective date of August 31, 2020 for a TDIU but denied earlier effective dates for the service connection of lumbar spine disability and radiculopathy of both lower extremities.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for an initial rating in excess of 20 percent for left lower extremity radiculopathy, sciatic nerve.

The Veteran's service-connected thoracic spine strain was granted a rating of 20 percent for the period prior to January 29, 2024, but denied a higher rating from that date. The claims for service connection for lumbosacral and sciatic nerve disorders were remanded.

The Board granted a disability rating of 30 percent for the Veteran's left lower extremity radiculopathy, anterior tibial and internal popliteal nerve.

The Board denied increased ratings for the Veteran's intervertebral disc syndrome, bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy, and bilateral knee degenerative arthritis, as well as left ankle strain.

The Board remands the claims for a right knee disorder, lumbar spine degenerative arthritis with spinal stenosis, and bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy to correct pre-decisional duty to assist errors.