Radiculopathy & sciatica decisions — 2025

The Board granted earlier effective dates of April 20, 2019, for the awards of service connection for DDD of the spine and associated right lower extremity radiculopathy.

The Board denied service connection for left and right lower extremity radiculopathy, left and right ankle conditions, and traumatic brain injury (TBI) due to insufficient evidence of a nexus between the claimed conditions and the Veteran's active service.

The Board granted a rating of 30 percent for left upper extremity radiculopathy and 40 percent for right upper extremity radiculopathy, finding the Veteran's symptoms approximate moderate level of impairment.

The Board restored the 40 percent rating for left lower extremity sciatic nerve radiculopathy, effective May 27, 2025, as the reduction was improper due to a lack of sustained improvement.

The Board restored the 40 percent rating for left lower extremity sciatic nerve radiculopathy, effective May 27, 2025, as the reduction was improper due to a lack of sustained improvement.

The Board granted a 40 percent evaluation for the Veteran's service-connected right lower extremity radiculopathy, finding that it more nearly approximates moderately severe incomplete paralysis of the sciatic nerve.

The Board remands the claims for an increased rating for right and left lower radiculopathy sciatica to obtain additional medical opinions regarding the effects of medication on the severity of these conditions.

The Board granted service connection for erectile dysfunction as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected PTSD.

The Board granted service connection for intervertebral disc syndrome (IVDS), lumbar spine, and bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected bilateral knee disabilities.

The Board remands the claims for further development and compliance with previous remand directives.

The Board granted service connection for hypertension as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected unspecified depressive disorder, and assigned a 60% rating. The Board also granted initial ratings of 20% for right lower extremity sciatic nerve disorder and 60% for lumbosacral strain with degenerative disc disease, and granted TDIU.

The Board denied the claims for service connection for a cervical spine disability, right upper extremity radiculopathy, and left upper extremity radiculopathy as there was no evidence of a chronic disability in service or a nexus between the current disabilities and service.

The Board granted service connection for right sacroiliitis and bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy, both secondary to the Veteran's service-connected thoracolumbar degenerative disc disease, as well as earlier effective dates for the award of service connection for left and right lower extremity peripheral neuropathy of the sciatic nerve.

The Board denied service connection for acquired mood disorder, bilateral hearing loss, and increased ratings for spine disability and right lower extremity radiculopathy. The claims for an acquired psychiatric disability, ED, and bilateral knee pain were remanded.

The Board granted earlier effective dates for the grant of service connection and increased rating for various disabilities, all starting from January 1, 2023.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for Bell's Palsy, bilateral hearing loss, contact dermatitis, migraines, and right lower extremity sciatica due to a lack of new and relevant evidence.

The Board remands the matter of entitlement to specially adapted housing for a VA examination to determine the current severity of the Veteran's service-connected disabilities.

The Board granted restoration of a 20 percent schedular rating for left and right lower extremity radiculopathy, sciatic nerve, but denied increased ratings for all conditions.

The Board remands the claims for service connection and a higher rating to obtain additional medical evidence.

The Veteran is granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to his service-connected disabilities, and the reduction in the rating of lumbosacral strain with IVDS from 40 percent to 20 percent was not proper; the 40 percent rating is restored effective September 18, 2023.