Radiculopathy & sciatica decisions — 2025

The Board remanded the veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including right upper extremity radiculopathy and left shoulder disorder. The Board also remanded claims related to cervical and lumbar spine disorders.

The Board denied service connection for PTSD and an earlier effective date for lumbosacral strain. It remanded decisions on other conditions.

The Board denied all requested increased ratings for the veteran's disabilities.

The veteran's claims for higher ratings for several conditions were denied, but a 20 percent rating for left lower extremity lumbar radiculopathy was granted.

The Veteran's claim for a total disability rating due to individual unemployability (TDIU) has been granted. The Board found that the Veteran meets the schedular criteria for TDIU and is unable to obtain and maintain substantially gainful employment due to service-connected disabilities.

The Board remanded all issues to obtain additional evidence, including VA examinations, for a full and fair adjudication of the Veteran's claims.

The veteran's claim for a higher disability rating for radiculopathy in both upper extremities was denied. The Board found that the veteran's condition is manifest by mild symptoms and does not meet the criteria for a rating higher than 20 percent.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for a 40 percent disability rating for spine issues and service connection for radiculopathy in both legs.

The veteran's claims for service-connection for right knee strain, left knee joint pain, cervicothoracic syndrome, and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) were granted. The claim for bilateral hearing loss was denied. The claim for radiculopathy, left lower extremity, was dismissed. An initial 10 percent disability rating for left rib costochondritis was granted. Claims for dermatosis, chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS), and fibromyalgia were remanded.

The veteran is granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) due to service-connected disabilities, effective from August 25, 2022.

The Board denied service connection for anxiety, depression, bilateral hearing loss, and both knee disabilities. However, the claims for nerve pain in the lower extremities and sleep apnea were remanded for further adjudication.

The veteran's claims for increased ratings for cervical strain and lumbar strain were denied. The veteran was granted increased ratings for cervical radiculopathy in both the left and right upper extremities.

The Board remanded the case to obtain missing private treatment records and additional medical opinions regarding the veteran's lumbosacral strain and radiculopathy conditions.

The veteran was granted a 40% rating for L5-S1 degenerative disc disease before February 14, 2024, and a 20% rating for left and right lower extremity radiculopathy. The request for a higher rating after February 14, 2024, was denied.

The veteran was granted a total disability rating for compensation purposes based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities and basic eligibility to Dependents' Education Assistance. The issues related to ratings for right shoulder degenerative arthritis and right humeral fracture residuals were remanded.

The Board denied service connection for right and left eye refractive errors. It granted an earlier effective date of September 21, 2017, for a 10 percent increased disability rating for the left wrist but denied further increases. The Board also granted a 70 percent increased disability rating for PTSD from January 22, 2017, to January 22, 2018, but denied further increases. Additionally, it granted a 20 percent disability rating for left lower extremity radiculopathy from July 23, 2024.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for higher ratings for radiculopathy of the sciatic nerve in both lower extremities and a compensable rating for a scar from lumbar spine fusion.

The veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus was granted. The claims for higher initial evaluations for bilateral flat foot degenerative arthritis and right lower extremity sciatic nerve radiculopathy were denied.

The Board granted service connection for the veteran's lumbosacral strain with IVDS and right lower extremity radiculopathy, and obstructive sleep apnea (OSA).

The veteran is granted a 40 percent disability rating for both left and right lower extremity sciatic radiculopathy with restless leg syndrome and drop foot, effective from May 19, 2021.