Radiculopathy & sciatica decisions — 2025

The Board granted a 40 percent rating for lumbar spine degenerative disk disease, left lower extremity radiculopathy, and right lower extremity radiculopathy from July 31, 2013, to March 9, 2020. A TDIU was also granted.

The Board remands the claims for increased ratings and additional VA examinations to address the effects of medication on symptoms and ensure thorough evaluation.

The Board granted earlier effective dates for the award of service connection for right and left upper extremity radiculopathy as neurological manifestations of his service-connected neck disability, but denied earlier effective dates for fibromyalgia and lower extremity polyradiculopathies.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for cervical strain and right upper extremity radiculopathy, and remanded claims for an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for a right wrist sprain and service connection for a lumbosacral strain.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss, a bilateral leg condition, and left lower extremity radiculopathy but granted service connection for right hip osteoarthritis as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected back disability.

The Board denied service connection for left and right lower extremity neurologic disabilities, to include radiculopathy and restless leg syndrome, as well as an initial rating in excess of 70 percent for a psychiatric disability with residuals of traumatic brain injury.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal for initial increased ratings for thoracolumbar spine arthritis, cervical spine arthritis, bilateral lower extremity femoral radiculopathy, and a scar.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for left and right lower extremity sciatic radiculopathy, finding that the evidence did not support a rating in excess of 20 percent.

The Board remands the claims for an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for service-connected lumbosacral strain, left ankle deltoid ligament sprain (left ankle disability), and bilateral lower extremity sciatic nerve radiculopathy due to a pre-decisional duty to assist error.

The Board denied service connection for a back condition, left and right radiculopathy lower extremities (claimed as bilateral radiculopathy lower), and a bilateral foot condition (plantar fasciitis) due to the lack of evidence supporting these claims.

The Board denied restoration of the 20 percent ratings for cervical spine strain, thoracolumbar strain, and right lower extremity radiculopathy due to improvement in the disabilities under ordinary conditions of life and work.

The Veteran was granted a 40 percent rating for lumbosacral strain with spina bifida occulta and IVDS from September 4, 2019 to December 13, 2023, and an effective date of September 4, 2019 for the grant of service connection for right lower extremity radiculopathy associated with lumbosacral strain with spina bifida occulta and IVDS.

The Board granted service connection for a neck disability, left hand and wrist disabilities, TBI, left upper extremity radiculopathy, and residuals symptoms of heat stroke. The claim for CAD was denied due to the absence of a primary service-connected mental health disability.

The Board granted earlier effective dates for the award of a 30 percent rating for tension headaches, service connection for radiculopathy of the left and right upper extremities associated with cervical strain, and an initial 50 percent rating for adjustment disorder with anxiety and insomnia disorder, all effective from September 28, 2019.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for the award of a 40 percent evaluation for IVDS, to include degenerative arthritis of the lumbosacral spine, as there was no factually ascertainable evidence that supported an increase in the disability rating within one year prior to March 8, 2022.

The Board denied a rating in excess of 10 percent for the Veteran's right knee instability prior to February 7, 2021, and granted a 20 percent rating from that date. The Board also denied a rating in excess of 10 percent for the Veteran's RLE radiculopathy.

The Board dismissed the claims for earlier effective dates for entitlement to service connection for left knee patellofemoral pain syndrome with tendinitis, lumbar spondylolisthesis and spondylosis, left lower extremity (LLE) radiculopathy, and allergic rhinitis.

The Board granted service connection for right lower extremity radiculopathy as secondary to the service-connected disability of wedge compression fracture at L1 with end plate spurring, degenerative disc disease, and annular tear at the L5-S1. The claim for service connection for rhinitis was denied.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities preclude him from obtaining or maintaining substantial, gainful employment, and a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities (TDIU) is granted.

The Board denied service connection for a right leg disability, kidney cancer, including residuals, and bilateral knee disabilities as the evidence did not support that these conditions began during active service or are related to an in-service injury or disease.