Radiculopathy & sciatica decisions — 2025

The Board remands the issues of entitlement to increased ratings for lumbosacral strain with degenerative changes, right lower extremity radiculopathy, and left lower extremity radiculopathy due to insufficient evidence.

The Board remands the claims for an increased rating for left and right lower extremity radiculopathy to obtain additional private treatment records.

The Board denied a rating in excess of 40 percent for the Veteran's low back disability and granted initial 20 percent ratings for bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy of both the sciatic and femoral nerves.

The Board denied an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for RLE radiculopathy, sciatic nerve but granted one for LLE radiculopathy, sciatic nerve.

The Board denied entitlement to increased ratings for left and right lower extremity radiculopathy disabilities, as well as special monthly compensation for housebound status.

The Veteran is granted a TDIU, special monthly compensation at the housebound rate, and basic eligibility for Dependents' Educational Assistance benefits. The right knee osteoarthritis issue was remanded for further evaluation.

The Board denied service connection for a thoracic spine disability and remanded the claims for bilateral hip, left sciatic radicular pain, headaches, and cervicothoracic spine disabilities.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for various conditions, including fungal conditions of both feet, right leg neuralgia, a neck condition, and radiculopathy in both upper extremities, due to insufficient evidence.

The Board denied increased ratings for cervical strain, degenerative arthritis and disc disease with spondylosis, right and left knee osteoarthritis, and right upper and lower extremity radiculopathy but granted separate 10 percent ratings for right and left knee instability and a 40 percent rating for right upper extremity radiculopathy. The Board also remanded the claim for entitlement to TDIU.

The Board remands the claim for service connection of degenerative arthritis of the cervical spine, spinal stenosis, and bilateral upper extremity radiculopathy to obtain a more adequate medical opinion.

The Board granted an initial evaluation of 20 percent for right and left lower extremity sciatic nerve radiculopathy, but remanded the claims for service connection for carpal tunnel syndrome, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and lumbar spinal fusion with degenerative arthritis.

The Board dismissed the appeal for entitlement to a rating in excess of 20 percent for both left and right lower extremity sciatic radiculopathy, as these issues were improperly docketed.

The Board denied service connection for chronic fatigue syndrome, gastroesophageal reflux disease, and chronic sinusitis. However, it granted an increased disability rating of 30 percent for left upper extremity radiculopathy.

The Board denied increased ratings for the Veteran's lumbosacral musculoligamentous strain, radiculopathy of both lower extremities, right ankle sprain, and allergic rhinitis. Service connection was granted for eczema (claimed as dermatitis) but denied for sinusitis, cirrhosis of the liver, cervical strain, left shoulder strain, right shoulder strain, and left ankle strain.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings and earlier effective dates, finding that the evidence did not support higher ratings or earlier effective dates.

The Board granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) due to the Veteran's service-connected disabilities, but denied increased ratings for major depressive disorder with anxious distress features and polysubstance use and chronic venous insufficiency and varicose veins.

The Veteran's lumbar disability, left lower extremity femoral nerve radiculopathy (LLE radiculopathy), and right lower extremity femoral nerve radiculopathy (RLE radiculopathy) were granted ratings of 40%, 30%, and 20% respectively. The Veteran was also granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) and special monthly compensation for aid and attendance.

The Board granted an effective date of April 24, 2014, for service connection for left and right lower extremity radiculopathy, a rating of 40 percent from April 24, 2014 to August 13, 2020 for the back disability, and a separate rating for bowel incontinence associated with the back disability.

The Board granted an earlier effective date of December 12, 2023 for service connection for residuals of a left tibia fracture and denied increased ratings for various conditions.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for a low back disability, nerve disorder of the right lower extremity, and nerve disorder of the left lower extremity to schedule VA examinations and obtain medical opinions regarding their relationship to the Veteran's military service.