Radiculopathy & sciatica decisions — 2025

The Board denied service connection for diabetes mellitus, hypertension, a lumbosacral spine disability, obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), and right leg sciatica as they are not related to active service or any incident of service. The Veteran's service-connected bilateral shin splints did not cause or aggravate these conditions.

The Board denied earlier effective dates for service connection of various disabilities, except for the right and left sciatic nerve disabilities which were granted an effective date of August 18, 2020.

The Board granted an earlier effective date of January 1, 2017, for the award of a 20 percent rating for left and right lower extremity sciatica but denied higher ratings. It also granted an effective date of December 11, 2017, for TDIU and DEA benefits.

The Board denied an initial rating in excess of 10 percent prior to January 26, 2022, and in excess of 20 percent thereafter for right lower extremity (RLE) radiculopathy.

The Board granted service connection for a low back disability and lumbosacral left lower extremity radiculopathy, but denied service connection for a left hip condition.

The Veteran withdrew her service connection claims for a lumbar spine condition, left lower extremity radiculopathy, and right hip condition. The Board remanded the issues related to the Veteran's left hip disabilities.

The Board granted effective dates of June 25, 2020 for the increased ratings and service connection awards.

The Board granted a 40 percent rating for left lower extremity radiculopathy and denied a rating in excess of 20 percent for right lower extremity radiculopathy, with the matter of entitlement to TDIU being remanded.

The Board denied the appellant's claim for attorney fees based on past-due benefits awarded in a January 2022 Rating Decision.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for lower extremity radiculopathy, finding that the evidence did not support a rating in excess of 10 percent.

The Board granted a 20 percent evaluation for both the left and right lower extremity radiculopathy, sciatic nerve, as they more closely approximate moderate incomplete paralysis of the sciatic nerve.

The Board granted service connection for degenerative disc disease with lumbar paraspinal tendonitis, right lower extremity radiculopathy, and left lower extremity radiculopathy, all of which are secondary to the Veteran's service-connected knee disabilities.

The Board denied service connection for various disabilities and an increased rating for insomnia, as the evidence did not support a finding of service connection or an increase in disability.

The Board denied higher ratings for several service-connected conditions but granted a 20 percent rating for radiculopathy of the left lower extremity.

The Board granted service connection for left lower extremity (LLE) lumbar radiculopathy and right lower extremity (RLE) lumbar radiculopathy, readjudicated the left elbow condition, and denied service connection for dry eye syndrome. Other claims were dismissed.

The Board granted service connection for radiculopathy of the right lower extremity and a separate 20 percent rating for left knee instability, while denying increased ratings for both knees.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for initial compensable ratings and earlier effective dates, finding that the evidence did not support a higher rating or an earlier effective date.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a right shoulder disability, lower back disability, and radiculopathy of the right lower extremity as there was no credible evidence of an in-service event, injury, or disease.

The Board granted an effective date of October 16, 2017 for the award of service connection for left lower extremity radiculopathy and denied a higher initial rating for thoracolumbar spine disability. The claim for right lower extremity neurological disability was remanded.

The Board dismissed the appeal for service connection for bilateral flatfeet and denied increased ratings for degenerative disc disease of the cervical spine, radiculopathy of both upper extremities, and an earlier effective date for Dependents' Educational Assistance.