Radiculopathy & sciatica decisions — 2025

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings and earlier effective dates, as well as remanded certain issues for further consideration.

The Board granted service connection for PTSD, bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy, right hand scars, back scars, residuals of shrapnel injury, and residuals of gunshot injuries but denied service connection for hearing loss and tinnitus.

The Board granted service connection for cervical spine disability, lumbar spine disability, and right lower extremity radiculopathy as secondary to a service-connected lumbar spine disability.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased initial ratings and earlier effective dates for service-connected disabilities, finding that the criteria for higher ratings were not met.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) as his service-connected disabilities did not prevent him from securing or maintaining a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board granted service connection for lumbar spine disability, left lower extremity (LLE) radiculopathy, and right lower extremity (RLE) radiculopathy as secondary to the service-connected lumbar spine disability.

The Board remands the service connection claim for degenerative disc disease with lumbar radiculopathy to correct duty to assist errors.

The Board remands the claims for further development, specifically to obtain an opinion addressing whether the Veteran's back disability results in the functional equivalent of ankylosis.

The Board granted a 50 percent rating for PTSD from October 7, 2014, to November 16, 2017; denied a rating in excess of 50 percent for PTSD from November 16, 2017, to April 16, 2020; granted a 70 percent rating for PTSD from April 16, 2020, to June 10, 2021. The Board also denied increased ratings for right lower extremity sciatic nerve radiculopathy and granted an increased 20 percent rating for RLE femoral nerve radiculopathy effective October 13, 2022.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 for additional disabilities in his neck and bilateral upper extremities, finding no evidence of carelessness, negligence, lack of proper skill, error in judgment, or similar instance of fault on the part of VA.

The Board dismissed the Veteran's claims for chalazion and hiatal hernia after the Veteran withdrew them on January 22, 2025. The Board remanded the claims for service connection to the residuals of a back injury of the lumbar spine and TDIU for an adequate VA examination opinion addressing the Veteran's lay statements and medical evidence of record.

The Board remands the issues of entitlement to service connection for bilateral upper extremity radiculopathy and a bilateral hand condition (other than carpal tunnel syndrome), including numbness, arthritis, bilateral Dupuytren's contracture, and other specified forms of arthropathy due to incomplete development.

The Board granted an effective date of June 10, 2022, for the grant of service connection for a cervical spine disability and bilateral upper extremity radiculopathy.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for various disabilities, including right middle finger degenerative arthritis, hemorrhoids, and sciatic radiculopathy in the right and left lower extremities, as well as right hip osteoarthritis.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection, as well as remanded several other claims.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for a low back disability and right lower extremity sciatic radicular pain due to inadequate medical examinations and opinions.

The Board granted service connection for degenerative joint disease off the cervical spine with spinal fusion and cervical spondylosis myelo, and left upper extremity radiculopathy (claimed as left arm weakness), but denied service connection for chronic pain.

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

The Board remands the claims for service connection for a lumbar spine disability and right ankle disability to obtain new medical opinions that address whether the Veteran's current disabilities are related to his period of active duty.

The Board remands the claims for an earlier effective date for service connection of radiculopathy in the left and right upper extremities to correct a duty to assist error.