Radiculopathy & sciatica decisions — 2025

The Board denied the Veteran's appeal for a rating in excess of 40 percent for lumbar spine spondylosis and anterolisthesis with degenerative disc disease, facet joint arthritis, and IVDS, as well as remanded claims for initial ratings in excess of 20 percent for right and left lower extremity sciatica.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including bilateral flat feet with plantar fasciitis and degenerative arthritis, have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation, entitling him to special monthly compensation at the statutory housebound rate beginning December 23, 2020.

The Board denied service connection for a right hip disorder and denied increased ratings for the lumbar spine disorder, except granted a 40% rating from January 10, 2019, to January 14, 2024, and a 20% rating for RLE radiculopathy. The Board also remanded the issue of entitlement to TDIU.

The appeal is being remanded to obtain additional medical records and a new VA examination to reassess the severity of the Veteran's right leg radiculopathy with impairment of the internal saphenous nerve.

The Board granted service connection for a back disability, neck disability, right shoulder disability, and bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy as secondary to the service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities from September 5, 2017, precluded him from obtaining and maintaining substantially gainful employment.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for various conditions, including diabetes mellitus, type II, hypertension, headaches, shoulder disorders, ankle disorders, hip disorders, lumbar disorder, and lower extremity radiculopathy, to obtain additional medical opinions.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability was granted a 40 percent rating, but no higher. The claims for increased ratings for left lower extremity radiculopathy and right great toe scar were denied.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for GERD and a lumbar spine disability to obtain additional medical opinions.

The Board granted service connection for low back disabilities, including arthritis, and right and left leg radiculopathy as secondary to the service-connected low back disabilities.

The Board denied benefits for spina bifida and other covered birth defects as the appellant's mother is not a Vietnam Veteran, and she does not meet the criteria for spina bifida other than spina bifida occulta.

The Board remands the claims for a cervical spine disability and radiculopathy of the bilateral upper extremities to obtain an addendum medical opinion regarding whether these conditions are caused or aggravated by the Veteran's service-connected lumbar spine disability.

The Board granted a disability rating of 20 percent for left lower extremity radiculopathy, involving the sciatic nerve, but remanded other issues.

The appeal for service connection for radiculopathy of the left and right lower extremity sciatic nerves was dismissed due to a procedural defect involving an improper concurrent election of multiple review options.

The Board denied an increased rating for the left great toe disability but granted special monthly compensation based on the need for regular aid and attendance.

The Board remands the claims for an earlier effective date for hypertension, service connection for sleep apnea, a skin condition, degenerative disc disease, right and left lower extremity radiculopathy, a prostate condition, and a bladder condition to ensure that all relevant evidence is considered.

The Board granted service connection for a lumbar spine disability and right lower extremity radiculopathy, but denied service connection for left lower extremity radiculopathy.

The Board denied service connection for a cervical spine condition and denied increased ratings for lumbosacral strain, right knee osteoarthritis with patellofemoral pain syndrome, left knee patellofemoral pain syndrome, and right lower extremity radiculopathy of the sciatic nerve. However, it restored the 20 percent disability rating for lumbosacral strain effective October 31, 2023.

The Board dismissed the appeals for earlier effective dates as there is no justiciable case or controversy with respect to these issues.

The Board granted a 40 percent rating for cervical radiculopathy of the right upper extremity and a 30 percent rating for cervical radiculopathy of the left upper extremity, but denied an increased rating for the cervical spine disability.