Radiculopathy & sciatica decisions — 2025

The appeal for the request to revise the August 1994 rating decision that did not adjudicate the claim of service connection for bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy on the basis of CUE is dismissed as there is no case or controversy.

The Board remands the claims for an earlier effective date for TDIU and DEA, as there is a reasonable possibility that the Veteran was unemployable prior to August 4, 2020, due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Board remands the claims for increased initial disability ratings for lumbar spine degenerative arthritis and intervertebral disc syndrome, right lower extremity sciatic nerve radiculopathy, left lower extremity sciatic nerve radiculopathy, and a right ankle strain to ensure that VA examinations are adequate.

The Board remanded the Veteran's claim for entitlement to TDIU because the AOJ failed to consider whether the Veteran's cervical spine spondylosis and bilateral upper extremity radiculopathy constitute one disability under 38 C.F.R. § 4.16(a), which could meet the schedular threshold for TDIU eligibility. The Board found good cause for the Veteran's failure to appear for a VA examination based on his credible account of being told by a VA representative that the examination was unnecessary.

The Board granted earlier effective dates for the award of a separate 40 percent disability rating for radiculopathy of the sciatic nerve of both lower extremities and a 70 percent disability rating for PTSD, to include anxiety, sleep impairment, depression, seclusion, anger outburst due to chronic traumatic instability status post decompression of the right shoulder.

The Board remands the claims for a rating in excess of 20 percent for right and left lower extremity radiculopathy to provide the Veteran with notice of his right to a hearing.

The Board denied the Veteran's appeal for an earlier effective date of service connection for her bilateral knee conditions, as the evidence did not show that the requirements for service connection were met during service or within one year after separation from active duty.

The Board denied service connection for a right sciatic nerve condition and remanded the claims for service connection for right upper extremity carpal tunnel syndrome and an acquired psychiatric disorder.

The Board granted service connection for a cervical spine disability, lumbar spine disability, and radiculopathy of the left lower extremity based on evidence that these conditions are related to the Veteran's period of active duty from June 1978 to June 1982.

The Board granted earlier effective dates of June 5, 1984 for service connection for IBS and right lower extremity radiculopathy, but denied an earlier effective date for the assignment of a 40 percent disability rating for lumbosacral strain.

The Board granted a rating of 20 percent for left lower extremity sciatic nerve radiculopathy neuropathy but denied service connection for a left hip disability.

The Board denied increased ratings for tinnitus and right ankle strain with residual osteoarthritis, but remanded claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric condition, lumbosacral strain, and associated radiculopathies due to missing private treatment records.

The Board denied service connection for sinusitis, bilateral hearing loss, left and right knee disabilities, and right and left lower extremity sciatic nerve disabilities. However, the Veteran's lumbosacral strain was granted service connection.

The Board granted service connection for radiculopathy of the right and left upper and middle radicular groups as secondary to degenerative disc disease of the cervical spine with spinal stenosis, but denied a higher rating for bilateral hearing loss.

The Board denied a compensable rating for the Veteran's service-connected surgical scar, left knee status post arthroplasty and remanded the claim for service connection for cervical spine status post spinal fusion to obtain an adequate VA examination.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for hypertension and lumbosacral strain with radiculopathy due to a pre-decisional duty to assist error.

The Board denied a rating higher than 10 percent for left lower extremity radiculopathy as the evidence showed mild intermittent pain, mild paresthesias and/or dysesthesias, and mild numbness.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for lumbosacral strain with degenerative arthritis and intervertebral disc syndrome, radiculopathy of the left and right lower extremities, and tension headaches (including migraine headaches).

The Board granted an effective date of October 21, 2021 for service connection for IBS and GERD, cervical strain, left upper extremity radiculopathy, right wrist sprain, lumbosacral strain, right and left lower extremity sciatic and femoral radiculopathies, tinnitus, and PTSD.

The Board denied a rating in excess of 20 percent for the Veteran's back disability, granted a 20 percent rating for right lower extremity sciatic radiculopathy, and denied ratings in excess of 10 percent for left lower extremity sciatic radiculopathy and a compensable rating for left ear hearing loss.