Radiculopathy & sciatica decisions — 2025

The Board denied the veteran's attempts to appeal rating decisions that denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and right foot radiculopathy, as the appeals were not timely filed.

The Board granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, as currently diagnosed, related to in-service military sexual trauma (MST).

The Board denied earlier effective dates for increased ratings of 30 percent for chronic asthma, 40 percent for early osteoarthritic change of the lumbosacral spine at L3-4 (lower back), and 20 percent for right and left lower extremity radiculopathy, as there was no evidence showing that the criteria for these ratings were met prior to April 24, 2024.

The appeal was dismissed due to a claims processing error of erroneous docketing.

The Board remands the issues of entitlement to increased ratings for lumbar spine degenerative disc disease with intervertebral disc syndrome, left and right lower extremity radiculopathy, as well as special monthly compensation and total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities.

The Board denied an initial rating higher than 50 percent for PTSD, granted a 20 percent rating for bilateral dry eye syndrome, and denied ratings higher than 10 percent for left knee strain with arthritis and a compensable initial rating for right ear hearing loss. The Board also denied service connection for left ear hearing loss, tinnitus, left hip arthralgia, right hip arthralgia, right foot pes planus and plantar fasciitis, status post subtalar joint arthrodesis (right foot condition), and candida infections but granted service connection for left leg lower extremity radiculopathy and right leg lower extremity radiculopathy secondary to lumbosacral strain with degenerative arthritis.

The Board denied entitlement to initial ratings in excess of 20 percent for radiculopathy of the left and right lower extremities, finding that the Veteran's symptoms were primarily manifested by intermittent pain and moderate incomplete paralysis.

The Board granted service connection for right and left lower extremity radiculopathy as secondary to the Veteran's lumbosacral strain with intervertebral disc syndrome, but denied service connection for lumbar central spinal canal stenosis L2-L3.

The veteran withdrew his entire appeal, and the Board dismissed all claims for service connection.

The Board denied service connection for sinusitis and chronic fatigue syndrome, but granted service connection for functional dyspepsia, abdominal pain, and bloating. The Board also granted a 10 percent rating for rhinitis.

The Board granted an initial 60 percent rating for right lower extremity lumbar radiculopathy, sciatic nerve and entitlement to TDIU due to service-connected disabilities.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for right and left upper extremity cervical radiculopathy, finding that the evidence did not support a rating in excess of 40 percent for the right (major) upper extremity and 30 percent for the left (minor) upper extremity.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for special monthly compensation based on the need for aid and attendance due to his service-connected disabilities, including bipolar disorder.

The Board remands the claims for additional evidentiary development, including obtaining an addendum opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's colon cancer and any outstanding VA treatment records.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date of August 20, 2019 for the grant of a 30 percent evaluation for service-connected dizziness was granted.

The appeal was granted for service connection of a lumbar spine disability, radiculopathy of the left lower extremity, and a right wrist disability due to new evidence. Tinnitus was granted on direct service connection.

The appeal for an earlier effective date of September 26, 2023, was dismissed as moot because the benefit sought had already been granted.

The Board remands the claims for increased ratings in excess of 10 percent for left and right lower extremity radiculopathy to ensure a proper VA neurological examination is conducted.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and remanded claims for chronic sinusitis, allergic rhinitis, and cervical degenerative arthritis with right upper extremity radiculopathy due to insufficient evidence.

The Board granted a 30 percent disability rating for sarcoidosis from February 28, 2023, and denied higher ratings for lumbar spine degenerative arthritis, left lower extremity radiculopathy, and major depressive disorder with generalized anxiety disorder.