Radiculopathy & sciatica decisions — 2025

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for sciatic radiculopathy in both lower extremities, finding that the evidence did not support a higher rating.

The Board granted an initial rating of 40 percent, but no greater, for right lower extremity radiculopathy and a disability rating of 40 percent, but no greater, for left lower extremity sciatic radiculopathy from January 6, 2022.

The Board denied the claims for earlier effective dates and increased ratings, finding that the proper effective date is February 13, 2023.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for various disabilities, including lumbar spine degenerative arthritis, radiculopathy of both femoral and sciatic nerves, tension headaches, residual scarring, and PTSD.

The Board granted service connection for tinnitus, resolving reasonable doubt in favor of the Veteran. The other claims were remanded for further development.

The Board granted an effective date of April 18, 2023, for the 40 percent rating for left and right lower extremity radiculopathy but denied an earlier effective date for service connection for a lumbar spine disability.

The Board granted an initial increased rating of 70 percent for PTSD with alcohol use disorder and remanded the claims for service connection for pain of the left shoulder, pain of the lumbar spine, and sciatic radicular pains.

The Board denied a rating in excess of 70 percent for PTSD and a rating in excess of 20 percent for the lumbar spine back disability, as the evidence did not show symptoms productive of total occupational and social impairment or greater severity.

The Board granted an earlier effective date for the service connection of lumbosacral strain and related lower extremity radiculopathies, but remanded claims for higher initial ratings.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for hypertension, OSA, low back disorder, left hip disorder, and bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy to obtain additional medical evidence.

The Board granted service connection for multiple conditions, including tinnitus, traumatic brain injury, post-concussion migraines, peripheral vestibular disorder, insomnia, obstructive sleep apnea, lumbosacral strain with degenerative arthritis and intervertebral disc syndrome thoracolumbar spine, lumbar right side sciatic nerve radiculopathy, lumbar left side sciatic nerve radiculopathy, cervical strain with degenerative arthritis and intervertebral disc syndrome, and cervical right upper extremity radiculopathy.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for right and left lower extremity radiculopathy, finding that the evidence did not support a rating higher than 10 percent.

The Board granted a 40 percent evaluation for sciatic nerve radiculopathy of the right and left lower extremities, a 30 percent evaluation for femoral nerve radiculopathy of the right and left lower extremities, and a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU), but denied an increased evaluation in excess of 40 percent for spinal stenosis and lumbar intervertebral disc syndrome.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for an initial disability rating in excess of 20 percent for right and left lower extremity radiculopathy of the sciatic nerve, as the evidence showed moderate incomplete paralysis.

The Board granted service connection for a low back disability and bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are related to his Reserve service duties.

The Board denied a compensable rating for left upper extremity radiculopathy, finding that the Veteran's condition did not warrant a higher rating during the period on appeal.

The Board granted earlier effective dates of November 21, 2019, for the grants of service connection for spinal stenosis associated with intervertebral disc syndrome, left and right lower extremity radiculopathy, and left knee tendinitis. The claim for an earlier effective date for special monthly compensation based on housebound criteria was denied.

The Board denied service connection for a foot disorder (bilateral plantar fasciitis) and a nerve disorder of the right upper extremity (cervical radiculopathy), as there was no evidence of current disability during the appeal period.

The Veteran's service connection for migraine headaches was granted, while the evaluations for spine and right lower extremity disabilities were denied or maintained.

The Board granted increased ratings for the Veteran's psychiatric disability, left lower extremity radiculopathy of the sciatic nerve, and restored a higher rating for right lower extremity radiculopathy of the sciatic nerve. The Board also granted service connection for migraines and erectile dysfunction.