Radiculopathy & sciatica decisions — 2025

The appeal regarding service connection for limitation of flexion, left knee and paralysis of the sciatic nerve was dismissed due to untimely filing. The claim for an increased rating in excess of 10 percent for right knee patellofemoral pain syndrome with degenerative arthritis is remanded.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings and remanded one issue, finding that his PTSD symptoms did not warrant a higher rating, bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy was mild, sinusitis was not severe enough to warrant a higher rating, and service connection for frequent urinating should be further developed.

The Board granted service connection for tinnitus, a back disability, and bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy as secondary to the back disability.

The Board remands the Veteran's claims for an increased initial rating in excess of 20 percent for left-sided lumbar radiculopathy and degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine to correct a pre-decisional duty to assist error.

The Board granted service connection for cervical strain, left knee strain, a right hand and/or finger disability (including right upper extremity cervical radiculopathy), and irritable bowel syndrome. The claims for bilateral hearing loss and a left hand and/or fingers disability were remanded.

The Board denied service connection for sleep apnea and denied initial ratings higher than 20 percent for a left shoulder strain and higher than 10 percent for a low back disability. The issues of entitlement to service connection for radiculopathy of the right and left lower extremities were remanded.

The Board denied a rating in excess of 10 percent for left lower extremity radiculopathy and an earlier effective date for the award of service connection.

The Board granted a disability rating of 40 percent, but no higher, for right lower extremity (RLE) radiculopathy beginning June 7, 2023, while denying increased ratings prior to April 23, 2019, and from April 23, 2019, to June 6, 2023.

The Veteran's claim for a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss was denied, and multiple claims for service connection were remanded due to missing or unavailable service treatment records.

The Board granted service connection for radiculopathy of the bilateral lower extremities secondary to her service-connected lumbar disc disease with an effective date of June 21, 2007.

The Board granted a disability rating of 30 percent for the Veteran's right shoulder dislocation with osteoarthritis, tendinopathy, and tendinosis but denied higher ratings for other conditions.

The Board granted an effective date of March 13, 2021, for service connection of radiculopathy, right lower extremity.

The Board denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric condition, other than PTSD, and remanded the claims for a cervical spine condition, left hip condition, right hip condition, lumbar spine condition, left lower extremity sciatica nerve pain, and right lower extremity sciatica nerve pain.

The Board remands the claims for service connection of left and right upper extremity radiculopathy and left and right lower extremity radiculopathy to correct pre-decision duty-to-assist errors.

The Board granted an earlier effective date of November 30, 2018, for service connection for right and left lower extremity radiculopathies but denied an earlier effective date for a 20 percent evaluation for the service-connected right lower extremity radiculopathy, sciatic nerve.

The Board denied an initial rating in excess of 20 percent for radiculopathy of the right upper extremity, finding that the Veteran's condition was only manifested by mild incomplete paralysis.

The Board remands the claim for service connection for left lower extremity (LLE) radiculopathy to obtain a new examination and an adequate medical opinion.

The Board denied higher ratings for the Veteran's left and right knee osteoarthritis with limitation of flexion, as well as left and right lower extremity radiculopathy sciatic nerve, finding that the evidence did not support a rating in excess of 10 percent or 20 percent respectively.

The Board granted initial ratings of 20 percent for right and left lower extremity radiculopathy of the sciatic and femoral nerves, effective January 19, 2023. The claims for increased ratings and service connection were remanded.

The Board remands the claims for an increased rating for a lumbar spine disability, left and right lower extremity radiculopathy, earlier effective date for TDIU, and earlier effective date for eligibility for Dependents' Educational Assistance under 38 U.S.C. Chapter 35 to ensure compliance with previous remand instructions.