Radiculopathy & sciatica decisions — 2025

The Board granted service connection for a right lower extremity disability and left lower extremity disability, both characterized by sciatic-type pain, as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected back disability. The Board also granted an initial 10 percent rating for right knee disability (based on limitation of extension) and a separate 10 percent rating for right knee instability.

The Board denied an increased rating for a thoracolumbar spine disability and radiculopathy of the right lower extremity, but granted a 10 percent initial disability rating for radiculopathy of the left lower extremity.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings and a separate rating for left lower extremity femoral radiculopathy, finding that his lumbar spine disability did not meet the criteria for higher ratings.

The appeal for an evaluation in excess of 60 percent from March 1, 2021 for right knee degenerative changes status post right total knee replacement was denied. The issues related to the right hip and low back were remanded for further examination.

The Board denied higher ratings for the Veteran's right shoulder disability, PTSD, and lumbar spine degenerative disc disease. The issues related to radiculopathy of the right lower extremity, right knee disability, and TDIU were remanded.

The Board granted a 40 percent rating for the service-connected low back disability before September 18, 2020, and denied ratings in excess of 40 percent from that date. The claims for increased ratings for left lower extremity sciatica and right lower extremity radiculopathy were also denied.

The Board granted a separate evaluation for right lower extremity radiculopathy associated with the lumbar spine disability, but remanded issues related to an increased rating for the lumbar spine and service connection for a right hip disability.

The Board denied service connection for all claimed conditions as the evidence of record does not support a finding that any diagnosed condition is related to the Veteran's active duty service or to a service-connected disability.

The Board granted an effective date of April 30, 2012, for the assignment of a 10 percent disability rating for radiculopathy in both lower extremities and TDIU.

The Board granted an earlier effective date of September 15, 2005, for the award of service connection for lumbar spine condition, left lumbar radiculopathy, and cervical spine condition.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities result in actual loss of use of the lower extremities, thus granting eligibility for financial assistance to purchase an automobile or other conveyance.

The Board remands all service connection claims for further development, including new VA examinations to determine the nature and etiology of the Veteran's claimed conditions.

The Board granted a disability rating of 20 percent for lumbar radiculopathy, left, and lumbar degenerative disc disease.

The veteran withdrew his appeal for all 11 issues, and the Board has no jurisdiction to review these matters.

The Board granted an initial rating of 40 percent for radiculopathy of the left and right lower extremities (sciatic nerve) based on moderately severe incomplete paralysis.

The Board's decision is remanded to ensure that due process is followed and that there is a complete record upon which to decide the appellant's claim so that he is afforded every possible consideration.

The Board granted a rating of 40 percent for radiculopathy of the left lower extremity (sciatic nerve) but denied service connection and increased ratings for other conditions.

The Board granted service connection for a lower back disability, left knee strain, bilateral ankle strain, right lower extremity sciatica, and PTSD based on military sexual trauma.

The Board denied service connection for esophageal stricture and denied higher initial disability ratings for right and left lower extremity radiculopathy, lumbar spine scar (back scar), and GERD. A 10 percent rating was granted for the back scar under Diagnostic Code 7804.

The Veteran's right lower extremity sciatic radiculopathy was granted a higher rating of 40 percent, but the claim for a higher rating in excess of 20 percent for lumbar disc degeneration and DDD was remanded.