Radiculopathy & sciatica decisions — 2025

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection for various conditions, including lumbosacral strain, tinnitus, right knee disability, chronic fatigue syndrome, gastroesophageal reflux disease, bilateral hearing loss, sciatica and lumbar radiculopathy, sleep apnea, and benign paroxysmal positional vertigo.

The Board granted higher initial ratings for the Veteran's degenerative arthritis of the thoracolumbar spine with intervertebral disc syndrome and bilateral lower extremity radiculopathies, as well as an earlier effective date for service connection.

The Board remands the Veteran's claims for a higher rating for his thoracolumbar spine disability, increased and/or separate ratings for left lower extremity radiculopathy, and entitlement to TDIU due to an inadequate VA examination.

The Board denied service connection for multiple conditions, including traumatic brain injury (TBI), pain of cervical and cervicothoracic regions, radicular pain and hypoesthesia of left upper extremity, pain and dysfunction of lumbar spine, right sciatic radicular pain, left sciatic radicular pain, right hip pain, left hip pain, right knee pain, left knee pain, post traumatic residual pain of right foot, and bilateral hearing loss.

The Board granted service connection for a lower back condition, to include degenerative arthritis, intervertebral disc syndrome (IVDS), spinal stenosis, and bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy.

The Board granted an earlier effective date of June 10, 2021, for the grant of service connection for right and left lower extremity radiculopathy and a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities from June 10, 2021, to October 19, 2022.

The Board granted an effective date of March 16, 2023, for ratings ranging from 10 to 50 percent for various service-connected conditions.

The Board granted service connection for low back disability, bilateral lower extremity sciatica, and right shoulder strain based on the Veteran's credible lay statements and medical evidence.

The Veteran was granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability from December 15, 2020 to April 26, 2022 due to service-connected major depressive disorder, degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine, and left sciatic nerve radiculopathy.

The Board granted service connection for herpes (cold sores) and denied service connection for chronic sinusitis, a back disability, left knee pain, left shoulder disability, chronic fatigue syndrome, right lower extremity restless leg syndrome, left lower extremity sciatic radiculopathy, left and right hand essential tremors, seborrheic dermatitis, allergic rhinitis, migraine headaches, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), hemorrhoids, right upper extremity radiculopathy, erectile dysfunction, and an increased rating for a psychiatric condition.

The Board granted an initial rating of 20 percent for right and left lower extremity sciatic nerve radiculopathy disabilities, as the evidence showed moderate symptomatology over the appeal period.

The Board granted service connection for lumbosacral strain with left side radiculopathy, resolving reasonable doubt in the Veteran's favor.

The Board denied service connection for headaches, left and right lower extremity radiculopathy, and remanded the claim for an acquired psychiatric disorder due to insufficient evidence.

The appeal for both entitlement to individual unemployability and service connection for chronic back pain without sciatica has been withdrawn by the Veteran's authorized representative.

The appeal for special monthly compensation based upon housebound status and the claim for service connection for cervical radiculopathy of the left and right hands were dismissed.

The Board denied the veteran's requests for an extension of time to file appeals regarding denials of service connection for treatment purposes only under 38 U.S.C. Ch. 17 for bilateral hearing loss, paralysis of the left sciatic nerve, and bilateral plantar fasciitis.

The Veteran was granted a 10 percent disability rating for right knee subluxation effective July 27, 2023, and TDIU. An initial rating in excess of 10 percent for the same condition was denied.

The Board granted service connection for a lumbar spine condition, right lower extremity radiculopathy of the sciatic nerve, and left lower extremity radiculopathy of the sciatic nerve.

The Board denied an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for right and left lower extremity radiculopathy, sciatic nerve.

The Board granted an initial rating of 50 percent for chronic tension headaches but denied higher ratings for right and left upper extremity radiculopathy, remanded claims for cervical strain, fibromyalgia, SLE, and TDIU.