Radiculopathy & sciatica decisions — 2025

The Board remands the claims for further development and to correct pre-decisional duty-to-assist errors.

The Board denied earlier effective dates for the grants of service connection for PTSD, left knee strain, and thoracolumbar spine disability but granted an effective date of January 13, 2022, for left and right sciatic nerve radiculopathy and August 19, 2015, for cluster headaches.

The Veteran is granted special monthly compensation (SMC) based on the need for regular aid and attendance due to his service-connected disabilities, which include lumbar and cervical spine disabilities with bilateral upper and lower extremity radiculopathies.

The appeal for a rating in excess of 20 percent for right lower extremity radiculopathy was dismissed due to the Veteran's simultaneous appeals not being permitted under VA regulations.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for degenerative disc disease with herniated nucleus pulposus at L4-L5 lumbar disc, left lower extremity radiculopathy, neuropathy, and right lower extremity radiculopathy, neuropathy to obtain adequate medical opinions.

The appeal for increased ratings and earlier effective dates for left and right lower extremity sciatic nerve radiculopathies was withdrawn by the Veteran's authorized representative.

The Board granted earlier effective dates for the awards of a 40 percent rating for left lower extremity sciatic nerve radiculopathy, a 30 percent rating for left lower extremity femoral nerve radiculopathy, and special monthly compensation (SMC) based on the need for regular aid and attendance.

The Board granted a rating of 20 percent, but no higher, for left and right lower extremity radiculopathy, sciatic nerve, as well as separate 20 percent ratings for neuritis in both lower extremities.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for an increased rating in excess of 10 percent for left lower extremity radiculopathy based on the evidence showing mild incomplete paralysis.

The Board granted an effective date of July 8, 2021, for the awards of service connection and a rating.

The Veteran withdrew the appeals for service connection for a back disability, right lower extremity radiculopathy, and left lower extremity radiculopathy.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for eligibility for financial assistance for specially adapted housing or special home adaptation.

The Board granted an earlier effective date of February 16, 2018, for the award of the increased rating for left upper radiculopathy.

The Board granted an increased rating of 30 percent for the Veteran's cervical spine disability, service connection for post-surgical cervical spine scar and left upper extremity radiculopathy as secondary to the cervical spine condition, and a TDIU from August 24, 2017. The right upper extremity radiculopathy rating was denied.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for service connection and a higher initial rating, as well as remanded the claim for chronic fatigue syndrome.

The Board denied service connection for erectile dysfunction and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) as there was no evidence of an in-service event, injury, or disease relevant to these conditions and a nexus between the current disabilities and active duty. The claims for service connection for headaches, lumbar spine condition, left foot condition, right foot condition, right knee condition, right shoulder condition, cervical spine condition, and right upper extremity radiculopathy were remanded for further development.

The Board granted a 40 percent rating for sciatic nerve, radiculopathy, right lower extremity but remanded the claim for an earlier effective date for TDIU.

The Board denied an increased evaluation for the Veteran's lumbar spondylosis with degenerative arthritis and remanded the issue of entitlement to an initial evaluation in excess of 10 percent for left lower extremity radiculopathy involving the sciatic nerve.

The Board restored the 40% rating for lumbar spine disability and denied an increased rating. The reduction of the left lower extremity radiculopathy to 10% was upheld, but no increase was granted.

The Board denied increased ratings for the Veteran's cervical and lumbar spine disabilities as well as left and right lower extremity radiculopathy, finding that the evidence did not support a higher rating under applicable criteria.