Radiculopathy & sciatica decisions — 2025

The Board remanded the claim for service connection of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) because there is no adequate medical opinion on which to base a decision. The case will be sent back to obtain an addendum opinion from a VA examiner.

The veteran's claim for a compensable rating for erectile dysfunction was denied. The claims for higher ratings for sciatic radiculopathy were remanded.

The Board remanded the veteran's claims for higher ratings of service-connected left and right lower extremity sciatic radiculopathy due to duty to assist errors.

The appeal for service connection of a cervical spine disorder as secondary to a thoracolumbar spine disorder was granted due to new evidence. The issues regarding radiculopathy in both upper extremities were remanded.

The Board dismissed all issues because the veteran had an existing appeal for the same claims.

The veteran's claim for service connection for adjustment disorder with anxiety and depression as secondary to tinnitus was granted. The claim for right leg sciatica was also granted.

Service connection for tinnitus is granted. The effective date for obstructive sleep apnea is September 29, 2020. The effective date for cervical spine degenerative arthritis with degenerative disc disease and disc displacement is denied earlier than January 4, 2021. The effective date for right upper extremity cervical radiculopathy is January 4, 2021. An initial evaluation of 30 percent for cervical spine degenerative arthritis with degenerative disc disease and disc placement from January 4, 2021, to November 29, 2021, is granted.

The veteran's earlier effective date for a 40 percent rating for left and right lower extremity radiculopathy is granted. The claim for individual unemployability prior to November 16, 2023, is remanded.

The Veteran is granted special monthly compensation (SMC) based on the need for regular aid and attendance due to his service-connected disabilities.

The veteran's claims for left and right lower extremity radiculopathy sciatica, and knee strains were granted as secondary to a service-connected lumbar spine condition. The claim for bilateral hearing loss was denied. Other conditions were remanded.

Service connection for obstructive sleep apnea is granted. A compensable rating for left lower extremity surgery scar is denied. All other issues are remanded.

The Board dismissed the veteran's appeals for an earlier effective date for several service-connected conditions but remanded the issues related to initial disability ratings.

The veteran's request for a disability rating above 70% for PTSD was denied, but they were granted TDIU and SMC at the housebound rate due to their service-connected PTSD.

The veteran's claims for service connection for right and left lower extremity radiculopathy were granted with an effective date of September 19, 2017. The claim for an earlier effective date for erectile dysfunction was denied.

The Board denied service connection for a neck disorder, bilateral shoulder disorders, and PTSD. The Veteran's claim for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is also remanded.,Service connection was not granted for the Veteran's claimed conditions due to lack of credible evidence linking them to his military service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not result in the physical loss or permanent loss of use of one or both hands or feet, permanent impairment of vision in both eyes, severe burn injury, or amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Therefore, he does not meet the eligibility criteria for financial assistance in the purchase of an automobile or other conveyance with adaptive equipment.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and consideration due to new evidence added since the last supplemental statement of the case.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and a rating increase were granted, with an effective date of April 4, 2008. The right foot corn was rated at 30% from that date.

The Board remanded the veteran's claims for service connection and rating due to a procedural error in determining the validity of the substitute appellant.

The Board granted the appellant's request for direct payment of attorney fees from benefits resulting from the March 2023 grant of an increased rating and total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU).