Radiculopathy & sciatica decisions — 2025

The Board denied the claims for a compensable rating for tension headaches and hypertension, and remanded the claims for service connection for plantar fasciitis bilateral, radiculopathy of both lower extremities, and back pain.

The Board granted service connection for a back disability with associated bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy, finding that the Veteran's condition is related to his military service.

The Board denied earlier effective dates for increased ratings and service connection claims, finding no factually ascertainable increase in disability prior to the date of claim.

The Board remands the claims for further development, including a new VA examination to clarify the nature and severity of the Veteran's service-connected conditions.

The Board granted service connection for hypertension due to in-service exposure to lead. The claims for cervical neck strain with degenerative changes and radiculopathy, right hand arthritis, left hand arthritis, a right hand neurological condition, including carpal tunnel syndrome, and a left hand neurological condition, including carpal tunnel syndrome, were remanded for further development.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a thoracolumbar spine disorder, finding that there is no evidence linking the current condition to his active service.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for lumbar spine disability and left lower extremity radiculopathy, finding that the evidence did not support a higher rating in either case.

The Board denied a rating in excess of 10 percent for right lower extremity radiculopathy and remanded claims for service connection for left ankle, right ankle, left knee, and right knee disorders.

The Board granted an effective date of October 24, 2018, for the award of service connection for cervical spine intervertebral disc syndrome with cervical strain and other related conditions.

The appeal for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) is dismissed, and several claims for service connection are remanded due to pre-decisional failures of the duty to assist.

The Board granted a 10 percent rating for the lumbosacral strain with degenerative disc disease and right lower extremity radiculopathy, but denied an increased rating for left foot calcaneal enthesopathy.

The Veteran was granted a staged initial rating of 20 percent and no higher for sciatic radiculopathy of the right lower extremity prior to August 10, 2016, and 40 percent from that date. The same ratings were also granted for the left lower extremity.

The Board's decision is remanded to obtain additional evidence for the Veteran's lumbar spine disability, sciatic radiculopathy of the left lower extremity, and effective date claims.

The Board remands the claims for further development of evidence, including obtaining private treatment records from a chiropractor.

The Board remands the claims for further development as there was not substantial compliance with previous remand directives.

The Board granted a 20 percent rating for right lower extremity radiculopathy and denied a higher rating for left lower extremity radiculopathy, while remanding the claims for TDIU.

The Board remands the issues of increased ratings for degenerative disc disease and intervertebral disc syndrome of the lumbar spine, lumbosacral radiculopathy of the lower left extremity, and entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability.

The Board denied a compensable rating for right knee strain with limitation of flexion and granted a separate 10 percent rating for right knee instability. The claims for increased ratings for GERD and left lower extremity radiculopathy were remanded.

The Board denied service connection for residuals of traumatic brain injury and bilateral hearing loss, but granted earlier effective dates for a 40 percent rating for low back disability and for service connection for right and left lower extremity radiculopathy.

The Board granted a compensable initial evaluation for prostate cancer residuals and an acquired psychiatric disorder, but denied increased ratings for tinnitus, TBI, and other conditions. Effective dates were also granted for the grant of service connection for certain disabilities.