Radiculopathy & sciatica decisions — 2025

The Board denied the claim for an initial rating of over 30 percent for right upper extremity cervical radiculopathy of the minor extremity.

The Board granted service connection for a headache disorder and assigned a 30 percent rating for GERD, while denying higher ratings for the lumbosacral strain with vertebral fracture, left lower extremity sciatic radiculopathy, right lower extremity sciatic radiculopathy, and bilateral hearing loss.

The Veteran withdrew the appeals for service connection and initial rating of specified conditions, thus they are dismissed.

The Board denied service connection for PTSD, mood disorder, and anxiety but granted service connection for the Veteran's right and left ankle disabilities and pes planus. The Board also granted initial 20 percent disability ratings for the Veteran's sciatica nerve conditions in the right and left lower extremities.

The Board granted an initial increase rating from 10 percent to 20 percent for radiculopathy; sciatica, right lower extremity effective November 22, 2019.

The Board remands the issues of entitlement to an increased initial rating for radiculopathy of both upper extremities due to a need for a new examination that adequately addresses the Veteran's symptoms during flare-ups and any differences between previous examinations.

The Veteran's service-connected GERD was granted a rating of 30 percent, and the ratings for his left and right lower extremity radiculopathy were increased to 20 percent from April 25, 2021. The right lower extremity radiculopathy rating was denied an increase from March 3, 2023.

The Board remands the claim for special monthly compensation based on the need of regular aid and attendance due to a pre-decisional duty-to-assist error, as recent evidence suggests a worsening of service-connected disabilities.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for radiculopathy in the right lower extremity and restored a 20 percent rating for sciatic nerve involvement.

The Board denied service connection for a back disability, right lower extremity radiculopathy, and left lower extremity radiculopathy as there was no evidence linking these conditions to the Veteran's active duty service.

The Board denied service connection for an autoimmune disease due to the lack of a current diagnosis, and remanded claims for left lower extremity sciatica and radiculopathy as well as degenerative arthritis, lumbar spine for further development.

The Board granted service connection for cervical spine arthritis, lumbar spine arthritis, bilateral upper extremity radiculopathy, and bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy.

The Board remands the claims for further development, including a VA neurological examination to determine the nature of the claimed upper and lower extremity neurological disabilities and their relationship to VA treatment.

The Board granted service connection for several conditions, including PTSD with a rating of 70%, and remanded others.

The Board remands the claims for a disability rating in excess of 20 percent for cervical spondylosis with cord compression, left and right upper extremity radiculopathy, right ankle injury, and hemorrhoids due to inadequate VA examinations.

The Board granted an effective date of July 16, 2021, for the award of a 20 percent rating for right and left lower extremity sciatic nerve radiculopathy but denied earlier effective dates for service connection for femoral nerve radiculopathy and entitlement to TDIU.

The Board denied an increased rating for degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine and remanded issues related to cervical spine degenerative arthritis and left upper extremity radiculopathy.

The appeal for a higher disability rating was denied, but TDIU based on the single service-connected disability of depression; adjustment disorder; with alcohol induced mood disorder; neurosis; and unspecified anxiety disorder was granted.

The claims for increased ratings for the Veteran's cervical spine disability and right upper extremity radiculopathy are remanded, while the claim for left upper extremity radiculopathy is also remanded due to a Joint Motion for Partial Remand.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for right and left leg disabilities, to include radiculopathy and hyperkeratosis, for further development of the record.