Radiculopathy & sciatica decisions — 2025

The Board remands the claims for service connection for left knee strain, lower back condition, and nerve paralysis of the left lower extremity to obtain a direct medical opinion.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for back pain and sciatica as secondary to back pain due to an inadequate VA medical opinion.

The Veteran's service connection for restless leg syndrome was granted, while the claims for increased ratings for degenerative arthritis with vertebral fracture, radiculopathy of the right lower extremity, and tinnitus were denied.

The Board remands the claims for further development and evidence gathering.

The Board denied an initial disability rating in excess of 10 percent for left sciatic nerve radiculopathy, finding the Veteran's symptoms to be mild and not warranting a higher rating.

The Board denied an effective date earlier than October 15, 2020 for the award of service connection for right lower extremity radiculopathy due to a broken chain of continuous pursuit.

The Board denied earlier effective dates for the assignment of a 40 percent rating for lumbar spine disability and for the grant of service connection for radiculopathy, left and right lower extremities.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings and a compensable rating for his service-connected lumbar spine disability, radiculopathy of both lower extremities, and back scar. The claims for asbestosis and sleep apnea were remanded.

The Board remands the claims for a higher rating for spondylolisthesis and left lower extremity radiculopathy to obtain an adequate examination that specifically addresses the ameliorative effects of medication.

The Board dismissed the motion to revise or reverse on the basis of clear and unmistakable error (CUE) for multiple issues regarding service connection, as the Veteran did not plead CUE with sufficient particularity.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for degenerative arthritis of the spine, degenerative arthritis of neck, radiculopathy of the right and left lower extremities due to a pre-decisional duty to assist error in reliance on an inadequate VA examination.

The Board remands the claims for a higher disability rating for lumbosacral strain and bilateral sciatic radiculopathy due to inadequate VA examinations and failure to assist in obtaining relevant non-VA medical records.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral pes planus, a neck disability, right upper extremity radiculopathy, left upper extremity radiculopathy, and right lower extremity radiculopathy as there was no evidence of current disabilities or symptoms.

The Board dismissed the appeal for an initial 10 percent disability rating for service-connected psychomotor epilepsy and denied increased, compensable ratings for a scar on the right forehead and service connection claims for sciatic nerve conditions in both lower extremities.

The Board denied an initial rating greater than 70 percent for adjustment disorder with mixed anxiety and depressed mood, granted TDIU from January 8, 2020 to June 19, 2022, and granted DEA benefits effective the same date.

The Board denied the motion to revise a January 2009 rating decision that awarded service connection for right leg radiculopathy effective June 4, 2003, on the basis of clear and unmistakable error (CUE).

The Board granted a 100 percent rating for unspecified trauma or stressor-related disorder and awarded special monthly compensation (SMC) at the housebound rate, while dismissing appeals related to left lower extremity radiculopathy and TDIU.

The appeal for service connection for a degenerative disc disease, lumbar spine disorder is dismissed as it has been fully granted. The claims for service connection for a degenerative disc disease, cervical disorder, cervical and ulnar neuropathy LUE radiculopathy, and an URI are remanded for readjudication.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for a lumbar spine disability and right lower extremity radiculopathy secondary to a lumbar spine disability due to an inadequate VA examination.

The Board granted an effective date of January 16, 2018, for the awards of service connection and subsequently assigned ratings for left ankle, right lower extremity, and right hip disabilities, as well as a 20 percent rating for a lumbar spine disability.