Radiculopathy & sciatica decisions — 2025

The Board denied earlier effective dates for service connection and denied increased ratings, but granted service connection with an effective date of January 16, 2018, and a TDIU beginning April 18, 2017.

The Board granted the restoration of a 40 percent rating for lumbosacral degenerative disease, effective June 1, 2024.

The Board denied a compensable rating for right leg radiculopathy with impairment of the internal saphenous nerve, finding that the Veteran's symptoms are most analogous to moderate incomplete paralysis.

The Board granted service connection for a low back condition, right lower extremity radiculopathy, left lower extremity radiculopathy, headache condition, and liver condition.

The Board remands the veteran's claims for a higher rating and compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 due to concerns regarding the qualifications of the VA examiner.

The Board dismissed the claims for service connection for right and left lower extremity, lumbar radiculopathy as they were already granted. The claims for service connection for a right hip disorder, left hip disorder, right elbow disorder, left elbow disorder, and cervical spine disorder are remanded for further development.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings and an earlier effective date for special monthly compensation, as the evidence did not support a higher rating or an earlier effective date.

The Board denied service connection for dermatochalasis, meibomian gland dysfunction, and blepharitis. The claims for lumbosacral strain, left lower extremity radiculopathy (sciatic nerve), right shoulder tendinopathy, diabetes, and prostate cancer with urinary incontinence status-post prostatectomy were remanded.

The Board denied an initial rating in excess of 50 percent for generalized anxiety disorder and an initial rating in excess of 30 percent for paroxysmal atrial fibrillation post ablation, finding the evidence did not support a higher rating. The claims for service connection for cervical spine disorder, left upper extremity radiculopathy, and right upper extremity radiculopathy were remanded.

The Board denied earlier effective dates for the awards of service connection for various disabilities, including PTSD with other specified depressive disorder and multiple wrist and finger pain conditions.

The appeal was denied due to the untimely filing of the Board Appeal request.

The Board granted an effective date of April 10, 2015, for the grant of service connection for left lower extremity radiculopathy and granted initial ratings of 40 percent for both right and left lower extremity radiculopathy from April 10, 2015, to June 1, 2020.

The Board denied service connection for chronic fatigue syndrome and right lower extremity radiculopathy, but granted service connection for sinusitis on a presumptive basis due to exposure to fine particulate matter during service.

The appeals for service connection for a cervical spine disorder, lumbar spinal stenosis, and psychiatric disorders were dismissed due to untimely notice of disagreement. The proposed rating reductions for lower extremity radiculopathy were also dismissed.

The Veteran was granted special monthly compensation (SMC) based on the need for aid and attendance beginning January 24, 2023. The claims for an earlier effective date for TDIU and DEA were denied.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for degenerative joint disease and intervertebral disc syndrome, cervical spine; cervical spine radiculopathy, right upper extremity; coronary artery disease; and right ear hearing loss.

The Board remands the claims for increased disability ratings for osteoporosis with IVDS and radiculopathy, right lower extremity (femoral), due to pre-decisional duty to assist errors.

The Board granted a 40 percent rating for lumbosacral strain and denied or remanded the other issues on appeal.

The Board granted service connection for lumbar spine disability, as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected left foot crush injury, and sciatic radiculopathy of both lower extremities, also secondary to the newly service-connected lumbar spine disability. The Board denied an initial rating in excess of 70 percent for depressive disorder with unspecified anxiety disorder and a compensable rating for allergic rhinitis.

The Board denied earlier effective dates for the Veteran's claims of left and right lower radiculopathy, finding no legal or factual basis to support an earlier date than December 16, 2014.