Radiculopathy & sciatica decisions — 2025

The Board remands the service connection claims for various disabilities and TDIU due to the need for additional medical evidence.

The Board denied entitlement to an initial disability rating in excess of 20 percent for left lower extremity radiculopathy prior to January 15, 2020 and in excess of 40 percent from that date. The Veteran was granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability.

The Board denied an increased rating in excess of 40 percent for thoracolumbar strain with degenerative changes and remanded the claims for a higher rating for left and right lower extremity radiculopathy as well as TDIU.

The Board granted service connection for allergic rhinitis and remanded the other claims for further development.

The Board granted an evaluation of 20 percent for bulging disc, lumbosacral strain, effective from May 16, 2023, to June 28, 2024, and denied earlier effective dates for the awards of service connection for left and right leg radiculopathy, as well as for rhinitis and sinusitis.

The Board granted an evaluation of 20 percent for bulging disc, lumbosacral strain, effective from May 16, 2023, to June 28, 2024, and denied earlier effective dates for the awards of service connection for left and right leg radiculopathy, as well as for rhinitis and sinusitis.

The appeal for an increased evaluation in excess of 20 percent for lumbosacral strain and thoracic strain was denied, while other issues were remanded.

The Board denied service connection for several conditions and dismissed claims related to effective dates, with the exception of granting an initial 30 percent rating for irritable bowel syndrome.

The Board granted service connection for intervertebral disc syndrome with discectomy and laminectomy, left lower extremity sciatic nerve radiculopathy, right lower extremity sciatic nerve radiculopathy, and incontinence as secondary to the Veteran's IVDS.

The appeal for an increased rating for left hip, the claims for entitlement to an earlier effective date and an increased rating for right knee strain, and the appeal for an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for left shoulder strain were dismissed. The claim for a 40 percent rating from June 24, 2021 for degenerative disc disease was granted.

The Board granted a 70 percent rating for PTSD, denied ratings in excess of 30 percent for left and right knee strains, granted separate 10 percent ratings for painful, noncompensable limitation of flexion of the knees, granted service connection for back condition and related radiculopathies, but denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and a right shoulder condition.

The Board remands the claims for an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for lumbar spine degenerative disc disease and bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy due to additional development needed.

The Board remands the claims for a rating in excess of 20 percent for cervical spine degenerative arthritis and disc disease with IVDS, radiculopathy of the RUE, LUE, lumbosacral strain with degenerative arthritis, LLE, and RLE.

The Board remands the claim for service connection of right lower extremity radiculopathy to correct a predecisional duty to assist error.

The Veteran's PTSD was granted a 70 percent evaluation beginning May 25, 2023. Allergic rhinitis was denied for the period prior to June 24, 2024.

The Board denied increased ratings for the Veteran's lumbosacral strain, adjustment disorder with mixed anxiety and depressed mood chronic, sleepwalker disorder, and lower lumbar extremity radiculopathies. The claims for service connection for PTSD, erectile dysfunction, obstructive sleep apnea, and a TDIU were remanded.

The Board granted service connection for lumbar degenerative arthritis and right lower extremity radiculopathy as secondary to the lumbar degenerative arthritis.

The Board granted service connection for a left knee disorder, right knee disorder, lumbar spine disorder, and radiculopathy of both lower extremities as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected shin splints, left lower extremity, with knee impairment.

The Board granted service connection for a neck disability, back disability, and bilateral lower extremity lumbar radiculopathy based on the Veteran's in-service motor vehicle accidents.

The Board denied service connection for posttraumatic stress disorder and dismissed the appeal for compensation for right lower extremity radiculopathy, while remanding the claim for left calf atrophy.