Radiculopathy & sciatica decisions — 2025

The Board remanded the veteran's claims for higher ratings due to inadequate examinations and missing records.

The veteran's rating for right lower extremity radiculopathy was restored to 20 percent. The veteran is also granted a 20 percent rating for left lower extremity radiculopathy (femoral nerve) and left lower extremity radiculopathy (sciatic nerve). The issue of entitlement to an evaluation in excess of 20 percent for degenerative arthritis, degenerative disc disease, and lumbosacral strain is remanded.

The Board denied the Veteran's request for an effective date prior to November 12, 2022, for service connection of several conditions. The earliest effective date allowed by law is November 12, 2022.

The Board denied an earlier effective date for TDIU and service connection for a headache disability. Other issues related to ratings and service connections were remanded for further evaluation.

The veteran's claims for separate and compensable ratings for various conditions were denied. However, the veteran was granted an earlier effective date of August 10, 2018, for service-connected left and right lower extremity sciatic radiculopathy. The issue of an effective date earlier than October 9, 2019, for total disability based on individual unemployability (TDIU) was remanded.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are remanded due to the need for additional medical records and opinions regarding the etiology of his ankle, knee, and leg disorders.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings related to various knee and lumbar spine disabilities are being remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions regarding the appropriate level of amputation if performed, as well as retrospective findings for the October 2020 examination report.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation from December 29, 2009, to January 5, 2016. The effective date for TDIU is set at the earliest of receipt of claim and date entitlement arose.

The veteran is granted an initial disability rating of 30 percent for cervical spine degenerative disc disease and a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) prior to May 31, 2016.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral shoulder disorders and bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy because no new and relevant evidence was received.

The veteran withdrew all claims for higher disability ratings, and the Board dismissed the appeal.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for right and left lower extremity radiculopathy were denied. The claims for back disability and bilateral hip disabilities were remanded.

The appeal for an increased rating for left lower extremity radiculopathy is remanded. The Board found that the VA did not provide a necessary examination to assess the severity of the condition.

The veteran's service connection for several conditions, including lower back, knee, shoulder, neck, and asthma, was granted. However, service connection for sinusitis and bronchitis was denied.

The Board granted the Veteran's appeal, finding that the severance of service connection for his back disability and bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy was improper.

The Veteran's motion for revision based on clear and unmistakable error was dismissed without prejudice to refiling. The Veteran did not specify the decision being appealed or identify a clear error.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for a disability rating higher than 20% for radiculopathy in both legs, stating that the evidence did not support a higher rating.

The veteran's claim for an effective date of January 31, 2020, for a 20 percent rating for left lower extremity radiculopathy was granted.

The Board dismissed the veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) as moot because the veteran already has a combined 100 percent rating.

The appeal was dismissed because the veteran died while it was pending. The dismissal does not affect the right of an eligible person to take the Veteran's place to continue the appeal on the pending claims.