Radiculopathy & sciatica decisions — 2025

The Board denied service connection for chronic fatigue syndrome, a respiratory disability, tinnitus, left lower extremity restless leg syndrome, right lower extremity restless leg syndrome, and left lower extremity sciatica. The initial rating for PTSD was also denied. Some claims were remanded.

The Board granted service connection for a left knee disability and a right-side lower back disability, but denied an increased rating for the left foot hallux valgus. The evidence was in approximate balance that bilateral plantar fasciitis is secondary to the service-connected left foot hallux valgus.

The Board granted an effective date of August 26, 2021, for the award of service connection for lumbosacral strain and bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy with sciatic nerve involvement.

The Board denied increased ratings for eczema (pseudofolliculitis) and low back sprain with intervertebral disc syndrome, as well as earlier effective dates for these conditions. The issues related to the right side sciatic nerve radiculopathy, right side femoral nerve radiculopathy, right knee strain, and left knee condition were remanded.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and remanded the claims for tinnitus, a headache disorder, a foot disability, a left ankle disability, a low back disability, radiculopathy of the right lower extremity, radiculopathy of the left lower extremity, and an acquired psychiatric disorder.

The veteran withdrew his appeals regarding earlier effective dates and increased ratings for the lumbar spine disability and radiculopathy of the bilateral lower extremities.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for financial assistance in the purchase of an automobile or other conveyance, or adaptive equipment due to a lack of evidence supporting permanent loss of use of his hands and feet.

The Board granted service connection for degenerative disc disease of the cervical spine, left and right upper extremity radiculopathy, as secondary to a service-connected lower back disability.

The Board granted service connection for radiculopathy of the right lower extremity as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected degenerative changes of the lumbar spine and increased the disability rating for the lumbar spine to 20 percent effective August 18, 2023.

The Board denied a rating in excess of 0 percent for hypertension and a rating in excess of 40 percent for IVDS with degenerative joint disease of the thoracolumbar spine, but granted a 20 percent evaluation for left lower extremity radiculopathy. The Board also granted total disability based on individual unemployability (TDIU).

The Board denied a disability rating in excess of 40 percent for the Veteran's low back disability and granted an increased disability rating of 20 percent for left lower extremity radiculopathy prior to February 27, 2024, while denying it from that date onward. The issue of entitlement to service connection for a neck disability was remanded.

The Board remands the claims for increased ratings and TDIU due to incomplete evidence, including a need for additional VA examinations.

The Board granted service connection for PTSD and a depressive disorder, but denied service connection for left lower extremity restless leg syndrome, right lower extremity restless leg syndrome, bilateral hearing loss, irritable bowel syndrome, and other conditions. The decision also remanded several claims for further development.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for right shoulder strain, right knee strain, lumbosacral strain, and right lower extremity radiculopathy secondary to lumbosacral strain to obtain adequate nexus opinions.

The Board granted service connection for a low back disability, left elbow disability, and bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy. The claim for a left shoulder disability was remanded, as were claims for higher ratings and TDIU.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for various conditions due to an error in verifying the Veteran's active service and obtaining his complete service personnel records and treatment records.

The Board denied increased disability evaluations for several conditions, dismissed claims for others, and remanded two issues for further development.

The Board granted an effective date of February 5, 2023, for the award of a 20 percent rating for thoracolumbar strain, intervertebral disc syndrome, but denied earlier effective dates for other claims.

The Veteran's claims for an earlier effective date than August 11, 2008, for awards of service connection and ratings for sciatic nerve radiculopathy in each lower extremity were denied as a matter of law.

The Board granted a rating of 20 percent for right lower extremity sciatic radiculopathy, but remanded claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, ED, GERD, and IBS.