Radiculopathy & sciatica decisions — 2025

The Board denied service connection for all claimed conditions due to lack of evidence showing current disabilities or service-related causes.

The Veteran's claims for higher disability ratings were denied, but the claim for individual unemployability was remanded.

The veteran's disability rating for IVDS of the cervical spine was restored to 20 percent. Service connection was granted for left and right upper extremity radiculopathy. Other issues were remanded.

The Board denied service connection for left and right arm radiculopathy as secondary to a nonservice connected cervical spine condition.

The Board denied all claims for increased ratings or initial compensable evaluations for the veteran's service-connected conditions.

The Board denied earlier effective dates for service connection of hypertension and PTSD. It dismissed claims for earlier effective dates for ratings of hemorrhoids, lumbosacral strain, hearing loss, and sciatic radiculopathy. The Board also denied higher ratings for these conditions and remanded the claims for service connection for diabetes and sleep apnea.

The Board denied service connection for right lower extremity radiculopathy in the external cutaneous nerve because there is no current diagnosis of this condition.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) and a rating in excess of 70 percent for major depressive disorder (MDD).

The veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral small fiber neuropathy was withdrawn. The claims for higher evaluations for left and right lower extremity radiculopathy, and for special monthly compensation (SMC) based on the need for regular aid and attendance were remanded.

The veteran's claims for service connection for several conditions were denied. However, the veteran was granted an initial 10 percent disability rating for a right hand scar and an initial 20 percent disability rating for radiculopathy of the right lower extremity.

The veteran's claim for service connection for hyperlipidemia was denied. All other claims were remanded for further development.

The veteran's claims for a 20% disability rating for right and left lower extremity radiculopathy were granted. Other issues, including higher ratings and TDIU, were remanded.

The veteran was granted a 10 percent rating for IBS and a 40 percent rating for lumbar spine degenerative joint disease. The veteran's left lower extremity radiculopathy disability rating was restored to 20 percent. Other claims were denied or dismissed.

The Board remanded the Veteran's claims for a higher rating of right and left lower extremity lumbar radiculopathy. The VA needs to schedule an examination to determine the current severity of these conditions.

The Veteran's appeal for an earlier effective date was granted for right upper extremity radiculopathy but denied for left and right lower extremity radiculopathies.

The Board remanded all claims for higher ratings due to inadequate VA examinations and failure to obtain relevant community care records.

The veteran's service-connected radiculopathy in the left lower extremity is rated at 20 percent from January 6, 2023.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for an initial disability rating in excess of 20 percent for right lower extremity radiculopathy of the sciatic nerve. The evidence did not show moderately severe incomplete paralysis.

The Board denied higher ratings for PTSD, left lower extremity radiculopathy, and left calf shrapnel wound. It also denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss. The issues of service connection for respiratory disorder, skin disorder, and eye disorder were remanded.

The Board denied earlier effective dates for service connection and increased ratings for several conditions. It remanded the claims for increased ratings for hemorrhoids with skin tag and cervical strain.