Radiculopathy & sciatica decisions — 2025

The Board denied service connection for obstructive sleep apnea and denied increased ratings for various disabilities including back, lower extremity radiculopathy, knee, facial scar, pseudofolliculitis barbae, and erectile dysfunction.

The Board granted an increased rating of 20 percent for left lower extremity lumbar radiculopathy, finding the Veteran's symptoms meet the criteria for moderate incomplete paralysis.

The Board granted service connection for peptic ulcer disease and pelvic congestion syndrome, and assigned initial ratings of 70%, 30%, 60%, 30%, 40%, and 10% for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), dermatitis, migraines, lumbosacral strain, and left lower extremity radiculopathy respectively. The Board remanded the claim of an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for costochondritis.

The appeals for an earlier effective date and a higher initial rating for radiculopathy of the right lower extremity were dismissed as there was no case or controversy, and the Board lacks authority to further consider these matters.

The Board granted service connection for left lower extremity radiculopathy and sinusitis, and increased the ratings for a left knee disability to 20 percent, a back disability (lumbar spine degenerative disc disease with degenerative joint disease) to 40 percent, and a right shoulder disability to 40 percent.

The Board granted an initial rating of 50 percent for tension and cluster headaches, a rating of 50 percent for carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) and cervical radiculopathy of the right upper extremity effective May 7, 2024, and denied higher ratings for CTS and cervical radiculopathy of the right upper extremity.

The Board granted an increased 30 percent rating for tension migraine from February 6, 2024, to March 13, 2024, and a 50 percent rating for sleep apnea. It denied all other claims.

The appeal of the proposed decrease in evaluations for left lower extremity sciatic radiculopathy and lumbosacral strain was dismissed due to procedural errors.

The Board dismissed the claims for increased ratings and denied a compensable rating for right shoulder scars, while remanding several other issues including service connection for a right hand disorder.

The veteran's appeal for service connection for a lumbar spine disability and bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy was denied because the appeal was not timely filed.

The Board granted increased ratings for the Veteran's lumbar spine disability and associated conditions, as well as entitlement to TDIU and SMC based on need for regular aid and attendance.

The Board granted entitlement to service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death, finding that the evidence is in approximate balance as to whether the Veteran's service-connected lumbar spine and radiculopathy disabilities were contributory causes of his death.

The Board granted a disability rating of 40 percent for the right lower extremity sciatica and denied higher ratings for both left and right lower extremities, as well as service connection for incomplete paralysis of the right external popliteal nerve and TDIU.

The Board denied a rating in excess of 10 percent for left lower extremity radiculopathy from March 14, 2023.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities prior to May 28, 2015.

The Veteran is granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) due to her service-connected disabilities from May 1, 2021.

The Veteran was granted special monthly compensation based on aid and attendance but denied for housebound status.

The Board granted service connection for migraine headaches, circumcision scar, urinary tract condition (including residuals of gonorrhea, recurrent urinary tract infections, and BPH), degenerative disc disease, and left leg condition (including radiculopathy). The claim for a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss was denied.

The Board granted service connection for allergic rhinitis on a presumptive basis and denied service connection for sinusitis, left lower extremity radiculopathy, right lower extremity radiculopathy, and a rating in excess of 10 percent for mechanical back pain syndrome.

The Board granted an initial rating of 20 percent for right lower extremity radiculopathy of the sciatic nerve, finding that the Veteran's symptoms best approximate moderate incomplete paralysis of the sciatic nerve.