Radiculopathy & sciatica decisions — 2025

The Veteran withdrew the appeal for higher ratings of various conditions, leading to their dismissal.

The Board denied a rating higher than 20 percent for left lower extremity radiculopathy and remanded the issue of entitlement to a total disability rating due to individual unemployability (TDIU) for the period from September 1, 2009 to May 19, 2011.

The Veteran was granted a 40 percent rating for his lumbar spine disability, as well as additional ratings for his bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy and lumbar fusion surgical scars.

The Board remands the issues of entitlement to increased ratings and separate disability ratings for lumbar spine, knee, and radiculopathy disabilities due to deficiencies in previous VA examinations.

The Veteran's right lower extremity radiculopathy was granted a rating of 20 percent, and the left lower extremity radiculopathy was denied ratings in excess of 10 percent prior to November 30, 2022, and 20 percent from February 18, 2023.

The Board granted a 20 percent rating for left lower extremity radiculopathy, sciatic nerve, from March 15, 2021, to April 14, 2023.

The appeal regarding entitlement to an effective date earlier than October 11, 2022 for the award of service connection for left lower extremity radiculopathy was denied. The rating for a lumbar spine condition from March 10, 2023 was improperly reduced and reinstated at 40 percent.

The Board remands the Veteran's claims for service connection for a low back condition and right lower extremity radiculopathy, to include as secondary to a chronic low back condition, due to a pre-decisional duty-to-assist error.

The Veteran was granted an initial rating of 40 percent for his back disability from November 23, 2020, to November 7, 2021, but no greater. The claims for increased ratings for right and left lower extremity sciatic radiculopathy were denied.

The Veteran's bilateral lower extremity radiculopathies and degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine have been rated at 40 percent, effective June 29, 2020, for which earlier effective dates were granted.

The Board denied an earlier effective date for the award of service connection and a 10 percent rating for right lower extremity radiculopathy, finding that the earliest date entitlement arose was March 17, 2021.

The Board remands the claims for a lumbar spine disorder, right lower extremity radiculopathy, and left lower extremity radiculopathy to obtain additional medical evidence.

The Board granted a 30 percent rating for femoral nerve radiculopathy of both lower extremities and a 10 percent rating for a painful scar with one characteristic of disfigurement, while denying ratings in excess of 40 percent for sciatic nerve radiculopathy of the lower left and right extremities.

The veteran's claims for higher ratings for lumbosacral strain, degenerative arthritis, and IVDS were denied. The claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) was granted.

The Board denied an earlier effective date for the veteran's left lower extremity radiculopathy, maintaining April 26, 2018 as the start date. The decision was based on a lack of objective evidence of radiculopathy before this date.

The veteran's service connection for several conditions related to radiculopathy was granted with an effective date of January 7, 2005. Some issues regarding increased ratings and total disability were remanded.

The Board remanded the veteran's claims for further development and examination. The issues involve evaluations for lumbosacral spine degenerative disc disease and sciatic nerve radiculopathy.

The Board denied an increased rating for PTSD but remanded the claims for radiculopathy and TDIU.

The Board increased the ratings for left and right knee disabilities to 20 percent, but denied an increased rating for a low back disability and a higher rating for right lower extremity radiculopathy.

The Board denied increased ratings for the veteran's PTSD, degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine with IVDS and spinal stenosis, degenerative disc disease of the cervical spine, right upper extremity radiculopathy, bilateral hearing loss, hypertension, and erectile dysfunction.