Radiculopathy & sciatica decisions — 2025

The Board denied an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for posttraumatic stress disorder with alcohol use disorder, as the Veteran did not continuously pursue entitlement to this benefit after its initial denial in June 2014.

The veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unable to secure and follow substantially gainful employment, so he is granted a rating of total disability based on individual unemployability (TDIU).

The Board remanded the veteran's claims for additional medical examinations and development to comply with a court order.

The Board remanded all issues to correct errors and obtain additional evidence.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for a higher rating for left lower extremity radiculopathy and service connection for right ear hearing loss and tinnitus.

The veteran's effective dates for service connection for a cervical spine disorder and radiculopathy of the left upper extremity were granted. The issues regarding initial ratings and an earlier effective date for DEA benefits were remanded.

The veteran was granted a 40 percent disability rating for both left and right lower extremity sciatic radiculopathy. The claim for a compensable disability rating for the surgical scar was denied, and the issue of a higher rating for the lumbar spine condition was remanded.

The veteran's increased rating claims for sciatic nerve radiculopathy, right lower extremity and right carpal tunnel syndrome were granted. The claim for the left lower extremity was denied.

The veteran's claim for lumbosacral strain is being reopened due to new evidence. The claim for right upper extremity radiculopathy was granted and dismissed from appeal. Other claims, including those for a right shoulder condition, back condition, left knee condition, and left upper chest scar, are being remanded for further review.

Service connection for the veteran's low back, left knee, and left foot disabilities was granted. The issues of right and left lower extremity radiculopathy were remanded.

Service connection for sinusitis, cervical spine arthritis, and upper extremity radiculopathy was denied. Service connection for OSA, headaches, vertigo, and lumbar spine arthritis was remanded.

The veteran's claim for right lower extremity radiculopathy was granted as secondary to a service-connected thoracic sprain. Other claims were remanded for further evaluation.

The Board remanded the claim for a Toxic Exposure Risk Activity (TERA) medical opinion to determine if OSA is related to toxic exposures and for a new VA medical opinion addressing correct legal standards regarding obesity.

Service connection for the veteran's lumbar spine disability and left lower extremity radiculopathy was granted.

The Board remanded the claim for service connection of left lower radiculopathy as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected lumbosacral strain. The Board found that the January 2023 VA examination was incomplete and inadequate.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection, as well as remanded a claim for further development.

The Board remands the claims for increased ratings of migraines, low back strain with degenerative joint disease, and left lower extremity sciatic nerve radiculopathy to correct a pre-decisional duty to assist error.

The Board denied service connection for various conditions and denied an increased rating for degenerative disc disease with lumbosacral strain.

The Board granted earlier effective dates for the award of service connection for degenerative disc disease, left lower extremity radiculopathy sciatic nerve, and right lower extremity radiculopathy sciatic nerve.

The Board denied initial ratings greater than 70 percent for unspecified stressor and trauma disorder and persistent depressive disorder with anxious distress, greater than 20 percent for diabetes mellitus, type II, associated with herbicide exposure, greater than 20 percent for right lower extremity sciatic radiculopathy as a residual of stroke, greater than 10 percent for residuals of stroke other than right lower extremity radiculopathy, and greater than 10 percent rating for hypertension. However, the Board granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities.