Radiculopathy & sciatica decisions — 2025

The Board denied entitlement to increased ratings for the Veteran's right and left lower extremity, as well as right and left upper extremity radiculopathy.

The Board granted service connection for a neck disability, radiculopathy of the bilateral upper extremities, migraine headaches, and an acquired psychiatric disorder, while denying service connection for a bilateral elbow condition and a bladder condition. The Board also granted ratings in excess of 10 percent for limitation of flexion of the right knee from March 16, 2021, and separate 20 percent ratings for meniscus conditions of both knees.

The Board granted earlier effective dates for service connection of May 19, 2022 for a lumbar spine disability and associated radiculopathies, but denied earlier effective dates for right and left knee disabilities. A 10 percent rating was also granted for the removal of semilunar cartilage in the right knee.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for several service-connected conditions, except for a 80 percent rating for left sciatic nerve radiculopathy and 20 percent ratings for right lower radiculopathy affecting the femoral nerve, both effective from June 1, 2023.

The Board granted service connection for chronic migraines but denied service connection for radiculopathy of the right lower extremity.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for tinnitus and radiculopathy of both upper and lower extremities as new and relevant evidence was not received to warrant a readjudication.

The Board remands the issues of entitlement to a rating in excess of 20 percent for degenerative disc disease with cervical strain prior to June 20, 2018, and entitlement to compensable ratings for left and right upper extremity radiculopathy prior to January 7, 2016, due to the need for additional medical evidence.

The Board denied service connection for a cervical spine disability with left upper extremity radiculopathy, finding no evidence of an in-service injury or chronic symptoms leading to the current condition.

The Board denied a higher rating for tinnitus and remanded several other claims related to the veteran's disabilities, including those involving hearing loss, knee radiculopathy, and hip disability.

The Board granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities, but denied an increased rating for the unspecified trauma and stressor related disorder.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for higher initial ratings and earlier effective dates for right lower extremity femoral and sciatic nerve disabilities.

The Board granted an initial rating of 20 percent for lumbar radiculopathy of both the left and right lower extremities, as the evidence supports moderate incomplete paralysis of the sciatic nerve.

The Board remands the claims for further development, including obtaining outstanding relevant treatment records.

The Veteran was granted an effective date of October 31, 2021 for the award of service connection for hypertension and chronic headaches. The claim for left upper extremity (LUE) radiculopathy was denied an earlier effective date.

The Board denied service connection for left lower radiculopathy, right lower radiculopathy, left elbow strain, and bilateral plantar fasciitis as there was no evidence of a current disability or nexus to service.

The Board granted an effective date of June 13, 2012 for service connection of chronic pain syndrome (left femoral nerve) and denied earlier effective dates for other claims related to chronic pain syndromes.

The Board granted service connection for irritable bowel syndrome and denied the claims for service connection for sinusitis, an evaluation in excess of 20 percent for urinary frequency, and evaluations in excess of 10 percent for left and right lower extremity radiculopathy. The issues related to non-allergic rhinitis, PTSD, fatigue, erectile dysfunction, bilateral pes planus, and fibromyalgia were remanded.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for an earlier effective date and a revision of a June 1984 rating decision on the basis that there was no clear and unmistakable error.

The Board granted service connection for tinnitus and a rating of 20 percent for radiculopathy of the right lower extremity, sciatic nerve.

The Board granted restoration of the 40% rating for left lower extremity radiculopathy involving the sciatic nerve, while denying increased ratings for right lower extremity and femoral nerve radiculopathies, lumbar spine disability, and bilateral hearing loss.