Radiculopathy & sciatica decisions — 2025

The Veteran's claims for service connection and higher ratings were mixed. Some issues were denied, some granted, and others remanded.

The Board remanded the claims to obtain additional records and correct a duty to assist error.

The Board granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, finding it related to the veteran's service-connected musculoskeletal disabilities and adjustment disorder with depressed mood.

The veteran's appeal for service connection of several conditions was dismissed because the veteran requested to withdraw the appeal.

The Board granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) secondary to the veteran's service-connected lumbosacral strain with lumbar degenerative disc disease and bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy.

The Board denied the veteran's appeal to restore a 20 percent rating for left lower extremity radiculopathy, femoral nerve. The reduction to 10 percent was deemed proper based on medical evidence showing improvement.

The veteran's claims for service connection for radiculopathy affecting the left lower extremity and a left ankle condition were granted. The claim for a higher disability rating for right lower extremity radiculopathy was remanded.

Service connection for the veteran's left and right knee conditions was denied. The claims for service connection for the veteran's left hip, right hip, and left sciatic peripheral nerve paralysis were remanded.

The Board granted the Veteran's petition to readjudicate the claim for an earlier effective date for the award of ratings for his back disability and related peripheral nerve disabilities due to new and relevant evidence.

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

The Board remanded the veteran's claims for service connection for lumbar degenerative disc disease with spinal fusion and stenosis, and right lower extremity sciatic nerve radiculopathy. The Board identified a duty-to-assist error and ordered additional evidence to be gathered.

The Board remanded all issues for further development, including VA examinations and medical opinions to determine the nature and etiology of each claimed condition.

The veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for service connection of right upper extremity radiculopathy was granted, with the effective date set to April 4, 2018.

The Board denied service connection for several conditions, including lung disability, bronchitis, and psychiatric disorders. Some issues were dismissed, and others were remanded for further review.

The veteran's total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) was granted with an effective date of August 1, 2021. This means the veteran is considered totally disabled due to service-connected conditions and unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The veteran was granted a 20% rating for several conditions but denied higher ratings and earlier effective dates. The veteran was also granted TDIU from January 30, 2017.

The veteran's service-connected disabilities alone precluded him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation, so he is granted a total rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU).

The veteran's claims for specially adapted housing and special home adaptation grant were denied. The claim for service connection for chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) was remanded.

The veteran's claims for service connection for autoimmune and cardiovascular disabilities were denied. The claims for lumbar spine, radiculopathy, and bilateral knee disabilities were remanded.

The Board denied the veteran's requests for earlier effective dates for service connection and increased ratings for disc protrusion L4-5 and left lower extremity radiculopathy.