Radiculopathy & sciatica decisions — 2025

The Board granted service connection for tinnitus and dismissed the appeal for PTSD, as well as other claims for service connection that were not supported by evidence.

The Board granted separate ratings for right and left lower extremity lumbar radiculopathy of the femoral nerve, but remanded claims for additional separate ratings for neuralgia or neuritis.

The Board remands the claims for an initial rating in excess of 20 percent for right and left upper extremity cervical radiculopathy with peripheral nephropathy due to an inadequate VA examination.

The Board granted restoration of the 20 percent evaluation for the thoracolumbar spine disorder and the 10 percent evaluation for right lower extremity radiculopathy, effective September 12, 2023, as the reduction in these ratings was not supported by evidence.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) as the evidence did not show that she was unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation due to her service-connected disabilities.

The Board granted earlier effective dates for posttraumatic migraine headaches and irritable bowel syndrome with gastroesophageal reflux disease, but denied an earlier effective date for erectile dysfunction. The Board also granted a 20 percent disability rating for right lower extremity radiculopathy.

The Board denied earlier effective dates for service connection and increased ratings, except for the granted increases in disability ratings to 40 percent for degenerative disc disease and spinal stenosis of the lumbar spine, left lower extremity radiculopathy, sciatic nerve, and right lower extremity radiculopathy, sciatic nerve, effective from November 10, 2021.

The Board denied increased ratings for right arm and left lower extremity radiculopathy, as well as earlier effective dates for service connection and eligibility for Dependents' Educational Assistance.

The Board granted service connection for PTSD and an initial 40 percent rating for degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine with IVDS, while denying service connection for a left shoulder disability and other conditions.

The Board granted service connection for left and right lower extremity radiculopathy but denied increased ratings for the Veteran's knee disabilities.

The Board granted increased ratings for the Veteran's degenerative disc disease with spondylosis and sciatic/peroneal nerve radiculopathy, but denied increased ratings for femoral nerve radiculopathy and special monthly compensation.

The appeal for service connection for PTSD is dismissed as moot. The Board denied higher ratings for the Veteran's right hip and lower extremity radiculopathies, but granted a 40% rating from September 24, 2019 to January 31, 2022 for his right hip limited flexion and a 20% rating from June 18, 2010 to September 23, 2019 for both lower extremity radiculopathies.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for cervical spine, lumbar spine, bilateral upper and lower extremity radiculopathy, and incontinence to ensure VA's duty to assist is satisfied.

The Board denied a compensable evaluation for bilateral hearing loss and remanded the evaluations of chronic lumbar strain with degenerative arthritis and right lower extremity sciatic radiculopathy.

The Board remands the issue of entitlement to service connection for lumbar degenerative disc disease with left lower extremity radiculopathy, as additional evidence needs to be obtained.

The Board denied service connection for left lower extremity lumbar radiculopathy as it is not related to the Veteran's service or any service-connected disability.

The Board denied higher ratings for the veteran's right knee, cervical spine, and lumbar spine disabilities but granted a 40 percent rating prior to December 27, 2017, for right lower extremity radiculopathy and a TDIU as of July 18, 2022.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for tinea pedis and onychomycosis, left lower extremity radiculopathy, right lower extremity radiculopathy, and lumbosacral strain with degenerative arthritis due to his failure to report for scheduled VA examinations without good cause.

The Board granted service connection for osteoarthritis of the left and right hips, a left shoulder disability, a lumbar spine disability, and bilateral lumbar radiculopathy as secondary to the lumbar spine disability.

The Board granted an effective date of November 12, 2013, for the award of service connection for radiculopathy in both lower extremities and right knee chondromalacia, as well as a 40% rating for the lumbar spine disability.