Radiculopathy & sciatica decisions — 2025

The Board denied service connection for left lower extremity radiculopathy, right upper extremity radiculopathy, and left upper extremity radiculopathy. The appeal for an earlier effective date prior to March 11, 2021, for a left knee strain and bilateral tinnitus was also denied.

The Board granted a disability rating of 40 percent for right lower extremity radiculopathy, sciatic nerve and denied an increased rating for gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD).

The Board granted an initial increased rating of 40 percent for left and right lower extremity sciatic nerve radiculopathy, but denied ratings in excess of 20 percent for left and right lower extremity femoral nerve radiculopathy. The claims for a back disability, shin splints, and TDIU were remanded.

The Board denied an increased rating for lumbar degenerative disc disease and left shoulder impingement syndrome, granted a 20 percent rating for right lower extremity radiculopathy with involvement of the sciatic nerve, and denied a compensable rating for left shoulder arthroscopic repair scars.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for service connection and increased ratings, as no new and material evidence was received prior to April 27, 2022.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection, finding that the evidence did not support higher ratings or service connection for the claimed conditions.

The Board granted a 40 percent increased disability evaluation for the Veteran's service-connected radiculopathy of both sciatic nerves and a 50 percent increased disability evaluation for his lumbosacral strain with degenerative disc disease, facet arthrosis L3-L4 through L5-S1, and neural foraminal stenosis, effective May 27, 2019.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for intervertebral disc syndrome and sciatic nerve paralysis, finding that the evidence did not support higher ratings under applicable criteria.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and various increased rating claims, as well as effective date claims, while remanding the claim for service connection for Hodgkin's disease.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation, granting TDIU effective May 20, 2022.

The Board denied increased ratings for various knee and back conditions, sciatica, and femoral nerve impairment, except for a 20 percent rating granted for left and right femoral nerve impairment beginning August 25, 2022.

The Board remands the issues of entitlement to a higher rating for lumbar spine disability and an earlier effective date for right lower extremity radiculopathy due to inadequate examination reports.

The Board granted service connection for right hip strain, left hip strain, left elbow degenerative arthritis with strain, right elbow disability, right knee strain and shin splints, left knee strain and shin splints, right shoulder strain with rotator cuff tendonitis, left shoulder strain with rotator cuff tendonitis, and sleep disability. The Board denied service connection for bronchitis, hair loss disease/disability, diabetes mellitus type 2, and hypertension.

The Board remands the matter for a new medical examination to determine the nature and etiology of the Veteran's right upper extremity radiculopathy, including whether it is related to her service or secondary to her service-connected cervical strain.

The Board remands the claims for an increased rating in excess of 20 percent for degenerative disc disease, lumbar spine and an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for right lower extremity sciatic radiculopathy to correct duty to assist errors.

The Board denied earlier effective dates for the grants of service connection for right and left lower extremity radiculopathy, finding that the claims were not pending prior to November 22, 2021.

The Veteran was granted an earlier effective date of April 5, 2018, for the award of service connection for radiculopathy, right sciatic nerve.

The Board granted earlier effective dates for the award of service connection for right and left knee patellofemoral pain syndrome, right and left knee limitation of extension, and a TDIU, but denied earlier effective dates for sciatic and femoral radiculopathies.

The Board granted service connection for tinnitus, but remanded the claims for psychiatric disorder, obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), right shoulder disorder, lumbosacral spine disorder, left lower extremity radiculopathy, and right knee strain for further development.

The Board granted restoration of the 40 percent rating for intervertebral disc syndrome with degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine beginning on April 1, 2021, and remanded other claims for further development.