Radiculopathy & sciatica decisions — 2025

The Board granted a 40 percent initial evaluation for left lower extremity sciatic radiculopathy and a 20 percent initial evaluation for right lower extremity sciatic radiculopathy.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates and increased ratings, finding that there was no evidence of worsening or increase in severity within the year prior to April 9, 2021.

The Board granted service connection for low back degenerative disc disease (DDD) with spondylosis, a post-surgical low back scar, and sciatic radiculopathy of both lower extremities. It also granted an increased rating of 30 percent for cervical spine disc protrusions.

The Board denied service connection for tinnitus and denied earlier effective dates for increased ratings and special monthly compensation claims.

The Board denied service connection for a low back condition and related radiculopathies of the lower extremities, finding that there was no evidence to support a direct or secondary relationship between these conditions and the Veteran's military service.

The Board granted a 40% rating for left lower extremity sciatic radiculopathy prior to October 15, 2019 and a 30% rating for right and left lower extremity femoral nerve radiculopathy prior to the same date. The other claims were denied.

The Board denied earlier effective dates for the grants of service connection for radiculopathy of the bilateral lower extremities and higher evaluations for degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine with strain.

The Board granted service connection for left lower extremity radiculopathy, sciatic nerve as secondary to the service-connected thoracic strain with thoracolumbar degenerative arthritis and degenerative disc disease but denied service connection for a neck disability and remanded the claim for tension headaches.

The Board granted service connection for lumbar spine degenerative disc disease and associated left lower extremity sciatic nerve radiculopathy with an effective date of August 6, 2021. The initial ratings for the lumbar spine condition were denied, while the Veteran was granted a 20 percent rating for left lower extremity external popliteal nerve radiculopathy and a 10 percent rating for left lower extremity posterior tibial nerve radiculopathy.

The Board granted service connection for tinnitus and denied service connection for sciatica, left hip condition, lumbosacral strain, and PTSD.

The Board denied readjudication of the claims for service connection for an anxiety disorder, a lumbar spine disability, and left and right lower extremity radiculopathy as new and relevant evidence was not submitted.

The Board granted initial ratings of 40 percent for right and left lower extremity sciatic radiculopathy, as well as a 50 percent rating for loss of extension of the left knee with arthritis, effective March 23, 2011.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 for various conditions, finding that there was no evidence of additional disability caused by VA care or treatment.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for an earlier effective date, service connection, and increased ratings.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for a lumbar spine disability and radiculopathy of the bilateral lower extremities to obtain an examination and opinion.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for thoracolumbar spine disorder and bilateral lower extremity radiculopathies, finding that the evidence did not support evaluations in excess of 10 percent prior to February 20, 2023 and in excess of 20 percent thereafter for the thoracolumbar spine disorder, and no more than mild incomplete paralysis for the lower extremity radiculopathies.

The Board granted an effective date of November 16, 2021, for the grant of service connection for cervical strain and various right knee conditions.

The Board granted an effective date of February 16, 2022 for the grants of service connection for a lumbosacral strain and radiculopathy, left lower extremity, femoral nerve. The decision also remanded the issue of entitlement to an initial rating greater than 20 percent for a lumbosacral strain.

The appeal seeking revision or reversal of the October 10, 2013, rating decision that denied entitlement to an initial disability rating in excess of 10 percent for radiculopathy of the left lower extremity is dismissed. The appeals seeking revision of the October 10, 2013, rating decision that denied entitlement to an initial disability rating in excess of 10 percent for right and left shoulder tendonitis are also denied.

The Board granted effective dates of September 27, 2017, for the award of service connection for lumbar degenerative disc disease with ankylosis spondylitis and cervical degenerative disc disease with ankylosis spondylitis, left hip arthritis, and renal cell carcinoma. The decision also granted a 10 percent disability rating for hypertension and a TDIU on and after December 4, 2018.