Radiculopathy & sciatica decisions — 2025

The Board granted earlier effective dates of January 18, 2022, for the 40 percent ratings for radiculopathy of the right and left lower extremities and lumbosacral spine disability, as well as a 10 percent rating for allergic rhinitis. The claims for increased ratings were denied.

The Board dismissed or denied service connection for various conditions, including back pain, mental health disorders, and bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy. The claims were not granted.

The appeal for service connection for multiple conditions was dismissed by the Veteran through his authorized representative.

The Board granted an earlier effective date of March 24, 2022, for the award of service connection for right lower extremity sciatic nerve radiculopathy and femoral nerve radiculopathy.

The Veteran is granted an earlier effective date of November 17, 2015, for the grant of individual unemployability (TDIU) and eligibility for Dependents' Educational Assistance.

The Board denied earlier effective dates for service connection and ratings for various conditions, including right knee scars, left lower extremity radiculopathy, right knee pain, limited flexion, back disorder, and right knee meniscal tear with knee meniscus repair and joint osteoarthritis.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and remanded the remaining claims for further development.

The Board denied higher initial ratings for the Veteran's left and right upper extremity radiculopathy and left and right lower extremity radiculopathy, finding that the evidence did not support a rating higher than the assigned 20 percent or 10 percent.

The Board denied a rating in excess of 20 percent for the Veteran's service-connected degenerative disc disease and bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy but granted service connection for radiculopathy of the bilateral lower extremities as secondary to his service-connected back disability.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection, finding that his malignant melanoma, sinusitis, cluster headaches, and cervical degenerative arthritis with radiculopathy do not meet the criteria for a compensable disability rating.

The Board dismissed the appeals for service connection as there was no case or controversy, and the claims were resolved by a full grant of benefits.

The Board remands the service connection claim for obstructive sleep apnea and related conditions to correct a pre-decisional duty to assist error.

The Board granted a 30 percent rating for GERD with hiatal hernia and a 40 percent rating for right lower extremity radiculopathy (sciatic nerve), but remanded the claims for service connection for insomnia and special monthly compensation based on the need for regular aid and attendance of another person.

The Board granted a 20 percent rating for left and right lower extremity sciatic radiculopathy, denied ratings in excess of the assigned levels for lumbar spine disability and cardiac disability, and granted TDIU.

The appeal for service connection for a thyroid condition and a bilateral foot condition (claimed as cold weather flatfoot) was dismissed due to a prohibited concurrent election. The appeal for right ear hearing loss was denied.

The Board denied a compensable rating for right upper extremity radiculopathy but granted a separate 10 percent rating for right upper extremity neuralgia.

The Veteran's right lower extremity radiculopathy of the femoral nerve was granted a 10 percent evaluation effective March 1, 2022, but his claims for increased evaluations for both conditions prior to and on or after that date were denied.

The veteran withdrew his appeals for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, chronic fatigue syndrome, right elbow lateral epicondylitis, and back pain with bilateral radiculopathy.

The Board denied an effective date prior to February 7, 2023 for the grant of service connection for right and left lower extremity radiculopathies.

The Board granted an effective date of June 8, 2021, for the award of service connection for left lower extremity radiculopathy.