Radiculopathy & sciatica decisions — 2025

The Board remands the claims for a new VA medical opinion to address the severity of, and functional impairment resulting from, the Veteran's low back and right lower extremity radiculopathy disabilities without considering the ameliorative effects of medication.

The Board granted an effective date of October 24, 2022 for the assignment of a 40 percent rating for service-connected lumbar spine degenerative arthritis with muscle spasm and 20 percent ratings for left and right lower extremity radiculopathy (sciatic nerve).

The Board remands the Veteran's claims for a more contemporaneous examination to determine the current severity of his service-connected conditions.

The Board granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and higher initial disability ratings of 70%, 40%, and 20% for PTSD, back disability, and left lower extremity radiculopathy respectively. The claims for higher ratings for right hip limitations and eye photophobia were denied.

The Board granted earlier effective dates of March 6, 2022, for the assignment of a 70 percent rating for service-connected PTSD and 20 percent ratings for left and right lower extremity radiculopathy.

The Board denied a rating in excess of 70 percent for PTSD and granted service connection for bilateral tinnitus, cervical spine disability, but denied service connection for left upper extremity radiculopathy, bilateral hearing loss, chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS), fibromyalgia, and gastrointestinal condition.

The Board dismissed the appeal for a rating in excess of 70 percent for posttraumatic stress disorder and granted earlier effective dates for service connection for tinnitus, lumbar spine disability, left lower extremity radiculopathy, right lower extremity radiculopathy, and obstructive sleep apnea. It also granted a TDIU from March 24, 2023, and SMC at the housebound rate.

The Board granted a 70 percent disability rating for PTSD with major depressive disorder, denied service connection for left ear and right ear hearing loss, and remanded claims for a neck condition and right upper extremity radiculopathy.

The Board granted an initial disability rating of 20 percent for right and left lower extremity radiculopathy, as the Veteran's symptoms more closely approximate moderate incomplete paralysis.

The Board denied service connection for right upper extremity neuropathy, to include as secondary to a right elbow condition and denied increased ratings for the Veteran's service-connected disabilities. The Board also remanded several claims for further development.

The Board granted a 20 percent rating for left and right lower extremity sciatic nerve radiculopathy, but denied ratings in excess of 10 percent for femoral nerve radiculopathy and higher ratings for back disability with IVDS and right shoulder disability.

The veteran withdrew all appeals, and the Board has no jurisdiction to review them.

The Board granted service connection for a lumbosacral strain and radiculopathy of the left and right lower extremities, finding that these conditions are related to an in-service fall.

The Board granted an initial evaluation of 40 percent for right middle radicular group radiculopathy and 20 percent for left middle radicular group radiculopathy, but denied higher evaluations for RUE and LUE radiculopathies.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for various conditions, including bilateral pes planus, heart condition, back disorder, osteoporosis, and others, as additional development is necessary.

The Board granted earlier effective dates for the award of service connection for right and left lower extremity radiculopathy, effective October 11, 2007, and increased the disability rating for lumbar spine disability to 40 percent, effective September 26, 2018.

The Board remands the claim for a rating in excess of 20 percent for service-connected left lower extremity radiculopathy due to the need to discount the effects of medication on the severity assessment.

The Board granted an initial rating of 30 percent for right upper extremity (RUE) radiculopathy, but no higher.

The Board denied service connection for left upper extremity radiculopathy, and remanded claims for service connection for a left wrist disability, erectile dysfunction, tension headaches, a left shoulder disability, and left lateral collateral ligament sprain (left ankle disability).

The Board denied the veteran's appeal for higher ratings and earlier effective dates for various conditions, except for granting earlier effective dates for service connection of left and right shoulder rotator cuff tendinitis.