Radiculopathy & sciatica decisions — 2025

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for an earlier effective date for service connection for left upper extremity, left lower extremity, and right lower extremity radiculopathy.

The Board denied an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for radiculopathy of the right lower extremity, but granted a 20 percent rating from November 20, 2010.

The Board denied the restoration of a 10 percent rating for service-connected left lower extremity radiculopathy and an evaluation greater than 10 percent rating, prior to March 7, 2024, and compensable rating, thereafter.

The Board granted service connection for lumbar disc herniation and herniated nucleus pulposus of lumbosacral region, as well as right and left lower extremity radiculopathy due to the service-connected lumbar conditions.

The Board granted initial ratings of 20 percent for left and right lower extremity sciatic nerve radiculopathy, resolving reasonable doubt in favor of the Veteran. The claims for increased ratings for knee conditions were remanded.

The Board remands the claims for an earlier effective date and increased rating for left lower extremity radiculopathy due to a duty to assist error regarding missing community care records.

The Board denied higher ratings for RLE and LLE radiculopathy of the sciatic nerve prior to February 11, 2021, but granted separate 10 percent ratings for RLE and LLE neuritis. For the period from February 11, 2021, it denied higher ratings for both conditions.

The appeal was dismissed due to the Veteran's concurrent election of review under multiple appeal lanes, which is prohibited by law.

The Board granted an effective date of December 7, 2022, for the grant of service connection for right lower extremity radiculopathy based on the Veteran's intent to file a claim received on that date.

The Board remands the veteran's claims for service connection for back disorder, right lower extremity radiculopathy, sciatica, and left lower extremity radiculopathy due to a need for a VA examination.

The Board granted service connection for a lumbar spine condition with arthritis and left leg sciatica as secondary to the lumbar spine condition.

The Board remands the claims for higher initial ratings for cervical spine disability and upper extremity radiculopathy due to an inadequate VA examination.

The veteran withdrew all remaining issues on appeal, including those related to his service-connected low back disability and sciatic nerve radiculopathy.

The appeal for a disability rating in excess of 20 percent for degenerative joint/disc disease of the lumbar spine since October 13, 2017, was dismissed. Other claims were remanded.

The Board remands the issues of entitlement to a higher disability rating for lumbar spine degenerative arthritis, left lower extremity radiculopathy, and TDIU due to an incomplete record regarding Social Security Administration (SSA) disability benefits.

The Veteran is granted a total disability rating based on unemployability (TDIU) from November 5, 2008, to October 18, 2011, from January 1, 2012, to October 23, 2012, from February 1, 2013, to February 23, 2014, and from April 1, 2015, to March 10, 2024.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for various conditions, including an acquired psychiatric disorder and radiculopathies of multiple extremities, due to insufficient evidence and the need for additional development.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal, and the Board dismissed all issues.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for a cervical spine disability and upper extremity radiculopathy as they are inextricably intertwined.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for total disability based on individual unemployability (TDIU) as his service-connected lumbar spine disability and bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy did not prevent him from securing or maintaining substantially gainful employment prior to May 13, 2014.