Radiculopathy & sciatica decisions — 2025

The Board denied service connection for gout and increased ratings for the Veteran's lower back, left sciatic nerve radiculopathy, and left femoral nerve radiculopathy disabilities.

The Board denied ratings greater than 10 percent for the Veteran's service-connected radiculopathy, knee strain, status post osteotomy of right second metatarsal, and surgical scars due to a finding that the evidence did not support higher ratings under applicable criteria.

The Board granted an effective date of September 10, 2010, for a total disability rating due to individual unemployability (TDIU) and basic eligibility to Dependents' Educational Assistance (DEA).

The Board denied service connection for lumbosacral strain, right lower extremity radiculopathy, and left lower extremity radiculopathy as there was no evidence of a nexus between the current disabilities and the Veteran's active duty service.

The Board granted earlier effective dates of December 21, 2020, for the award of service connection for left and right upper extremity radiculopathy.

The Board granted an increased initial disability rating of 40 percent for left lower extremity radiculopathy, resolving reasonable doubt in the Veteran's favor.

The Board granted an effective date of June 15, 2015 for the award of a 20 percent evaluation for both left and right lower extremity radiculopathy.

The Board granted an earlier effective date of April 27, 2011, but no earlier, for the award of a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU).

The Board denied a rating higher than 20 percent for the Veteran's lumbar spine disability but granted separate compensable ratings for right and left lumbar radiculopathy.

The Veteran's service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder was granted, while the claims for TBI, bilateral hearing loss, and other spine and extremity disabilities were denied or remanded.

The Board granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected disabilities, and granted increased ratings of 60 percent for intervertebral disc syndrome (IVDS) of lumbar spine, 20 percent for right femoral nerve radiculopathy, and 20 percent for left femoral nerve radiculopathy. The Board also granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability.

The Board granted an earlier effective date of March 4, 2014 for the award of service connection for right and left lower extremity radiculopathy but denied a higher rating for left shoulder impingement.

The Board granted a 40 percent rating for the thoracolumbar spine disability from July 9, 2015 to April 30, 2019 and a 40 percent rating for right and left sciatic radiculopathy from January 31, 2024 onwards. The Board also granted a 30 percent rating for right and left femoral radiculopathy from January 31, 2024 onwards.

The Board remands the issues of entitlement to a disability rating in excess of 10 percent for right and left lower extremity radiculopathy due to an inadequate statement of reasons or bases.

The Board remands the claim for an in-person VA examination and additional medical opinions to ensure compliance with previous remand directives.

The Board remands the claims for a rating in excess of 20 percent for low back strain with spondylosis, a separate rating for sciatic nerve radiculopathy, and entitlement to TDIU due to duty-to-assist errors.

The Board granted an effective date of May 12, 2022, for a 40 percent rating for right and left lower extremity radiculopathy, sciatic nerve, but denied earlier effective dates for the same conditions involving femoral nerve. The claim for service connection for erectile dysfunction was remanded.

The appeal for service connection and initial rating for various disabilities was dismissed due to improper concurrent election of multiple review options.

The Board denied earlier effective dates for the Veteran's claims for service connection for a back condition and bilateral lower sciatic nerve radiculopathy, as the appropriate effective date is June 14, 2023, the date of his Supplemental Claim.

The Board remands the claim for a VA opinion to determine if any of the Veteran's service-connected disabilities could have contributed to his loss of control of his motorcycle or his mental state which resulted in alcohol consumption and the elevated blood alcohol level at the time of the accident.