Radiculopathy & sciatica decisions — 2025

The Board denied an earlier effective date for the award of service connection for right lower extremity (femoral nerve) radiculopathy and granted a 20 percent rating, but no higher, for the same condition. The Board also denied a rating in excess of 50 percent for PTSD with depressive disorder, alcohol and cocaine dependence.

The Board remands the claims for a retrospective opinion and an examination to determine the severity of the Veteran's radiculopathy during the period on appeal, as well as whether the Veteran has a permanent need for regular aid and attendance due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for earlier effective dates and increased ratings, as well as service connection for several conditions.

The Board denied service connection for a low back condition, right lower extremity radiculopathy, and left lower extremity radiculopathy. The claims were denied as the evidence did not support that these conditions were related to the Veteran's service or secondary to his service-connected knee disabilities.

The Board granted an initial rating of 20 percent for right and left lower extremity sciatic radiculopathy, effective June 18, 2021.

The Board granted service connection for carpal tunnel syndrome in the right and left upper extremities, but denied it for a neck disability. The 20 percent rating for low back disability was restored, and initial ratings of 20 percent were granted for sciatica affecting both lower extremities.

The Board granted earlier effective dates for the assignment of disability ratings for cervical spine, radiculopathy, and right hip disabilities, as well as a later effective date for dermatophytosis.

The Board granted service connection for right and left lower extremity sciatica as secondary to a lumbar spine disability, but denied earlier effective dates for increased ratings of major depressive disorder and cervical spine condition.

The Veteran withdrew the appeal, and all issues on appeal have been dismissed.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for carpal tunnel of the right and left hands as more development is necessary to determine if a current disability exists that is related to the Veteran's military service.

The Board granted service connection for bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy, effective April 8, 2024.

The Board granted a 50 percent rating for the low back condition from September 24, 2024, and increased ratings of 20 percent each for right and left lower extremity radiculopathy impacting the sciatic and femoral nerves starting February 16, 2021.

The Board granted separate initial ratings of 20 percent for right and left knee tendonitis with arthritis based on limitation of flexion, granted a 10 percent rating for right and left knee instability, and granted an initial rating of 40 percent for lumbosacral strain with curvature of the spine and degenerative disc disease (DDD) and right lower extremity sciatica.

The Veteran's effective date for the award of service connection for right and left upper extremity radiculopathy is granted as March 3, 2021.

The Board granted a 10 percent rating for allergic rhinitis and a 20 percent rating for right sciatic radiculopathy, but denied higher ratings for left sciatic radiculopathy, chronic adjustment disorder with mixed anxiety and depressed mood, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), service connection for chronic sinusitis, pain of the right knee, bilateral hearing loss, and chronic fatigue syndrome.

The Board denied service connection for high blood pressure but granted a 40 percent disability rating for right lower extremity radiculopathy, sciatic.

The Veteran's right lower extremity radiculopathy was associated with his low back condition from the time of filing a claim in January 2018, and he is granted an earlier effective date for service connection. For the period from January 19, 2018 to January 16, 2024, a disability rating of 10 percent was assigned.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for a compensable evaluation for left ear hearing loss and service connection for right foot, left foot, lumbar spine, and right lower extremity radiculopathy conditions.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and remanded the claims for TMJ, tinnitus, sleep apnea, lumbar spine disability, increased rating for right hip limitation of flexion, compensable rating for right hip impairment of the thigh, and compensable rating for right hip limitation of extension.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for an earlier effective date and remanded the issues of increased disability ratings.