Radiculopathy & sciatica decisions — 2025

The Board granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities and basic eligibility for Dependents' Educational Assistance benefits, effective October 20, 2014.

The Board granted an initial 20 percent disability rating for left lower extremity radiculopathy (sciatic) based on the evidence of record.

The Board denied a compensable rating for the Veteran's left ankle sprain prior to May 18, 2022, and remanded claims for increased ratings for right and left lower extremity restless leg syndrome with radiculopathy.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for various conditions, including migraine headaches and a thoracolumbar spine disability.

The Board denied a rating more than 10 percent for GERD and denied ratings more than 20 percent for the left and right upper extremity radiculopathies prior to June 20, 2022. However, it granted a 30 percent rating for the left (minor) upper extremity radiculopathy as of June 20, 2022, and a 40 percent rating for the right (major) upper extremity radiculopathy as of June 20, 2022.

The Board granted service connection for degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine, right and left lower extremity sciatic radiculopathy. The claims for other disabilities were remanded.

The Board granted an initial increased rating of 20 percent for both sciatic nerve, right lower extremity radiculopathy and femoral nerve, right lower extremity radiculopathy.

The Board remands the appeal for further development, including obtaining SSA records relevant to the Veteran's claims.

The Board remands the claims for a new examination to properly rate the Veteran's cervical radiculopathy due to an inadequate July 2022 VA examination.

The Board granted earlier effective dates for the 40 percent rating of degenerative disc disease, arthritis, status post spinal fusion and service connection for right and left lower extremity femoral and left lower extremity sciatic radiculopathy.

The Board granted a 50 percent rating for the service-connected back disability and an effective date of July 7, 2015, for the grant of service connection for right lower extremity sciatic radiculopathy.

The Board granted service connection for knee strain flexion in both knees and major depressive disorder with anxious distress, but denied service connection for asthma and prolactinoma. The Board also denied higher ratings for the Veteran's knee strain extension and right lower radiculopathy.

The Board denied the Veteran's appeal for a total disability due to individual unemployability based on a single disability for special monthly compensation purposes, as there was no evidence that any single service-connected condition or combination of conditions rendered him unable to obtain and maintain gainful employment.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for a left ear hearing loss disability, right ear hearing loss disability, tinnitus, lumbar spine disability, and bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy to obtain additional medical evidence.

The Board granted a 70 percent rating for the Veteran's service-connected right upper extremity radiculopathy and a 60 percent rating for the left upper extremity radiculopathy, finding that the symptoms manifest in severe incomplete paralysis.

The Veteran's service-connected radiculopathy of the right and left upper extremities were granted increased ratings to 40 percent and 30 percent, respectively, effective May 1, 2023. The Veteran is also eligible for DEA benefits from May 3, 2022.

The Board denied earlier effective dates for the grant of service connection and increased rating, finding that the April 9, 2018 claim date was appropriate.

The Board denied the Veteran's appeal to restore a 20 percent disability rating for his service-connected left lower extremity sciatic radiculopathy, finding that improvement in the disability actually occurred and reflected an improvement in the Veteran's ability to function under ordinary conditions of life and work.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection, finding no evidence of a current sleep apnea disability, and that his asthma, right lower extremity radiculopathy, and acquired psychiatric disability did not meet the criteria for higher ratings.

The Board denied increased ratings for cervical spondylosis and stenosis with IVDS, lumbosacral strain with degenerative disc disease and IVDS, radiculopathy of the right upper extremity, radiculopathy of the left upper extremity, radiculopathy of sciatic nerve of the left lower extremity, radiculopathy of femoral nerve of the right lower extremity, and radiculopathy of the external cutaneous nerve of the thigh of both lower extremities. However, a 40 percent rating was granted for radiculopathy of the sciatic nerve of the right lower extremity and a 30 percent rating was granted for radiculopathy of the femoral nerve of the left lower extremity.