Radiculopathy & sciatica decisions — 2025

The Board granted an earlier effective date of July 14, 2014, for the award of service connection for right lower extremity radiculopathy but denied an earlier effective date for left lower extremity radiculopathy.

The Board denied the veteran's appeal for extensions of time to file appeals related to several claims, including right shoulder disorder, left-hand finger disorder, bilateral hearing loss, lumbar spine disorder, bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy, and PTSD.

The Board remands the claims for an initial compensable rating for migraines and service connection for sciatica due to inadequate examinations.

The Board granted service connection for sinusitis, right ankle tendonitis, scoliosis of the lumbar spine, and bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy. Service connection was denied for bilateral hearing loss.

The Board remands the claims for a disability rating higher than 20 percent for thoracolumbar spine disability, and higher ratings for left and right lower extremity radiculopathy to allow VA to obtain additional private medical records.

The Board denied the claims for service connection for neck and cervical spine injury with fusion, right shoulder strain, and sciatic nerve injury as new and relevant evidence was not submitted since the previous denial.

The Veteran's service-connected cervical spine, bilateral upper extremity radiculopathy, and right knee disabilities preclude him from securing and following substantially gainful employment.

The Board granted service connection for left lower extremity radiculopathy and remanded several other claims, including those for a mental health condition, left shoulder disability, costochondritis, reactive airway disease, and hypertension. The claim for lumbosacral strain to include herniated disc was dismissed.

The Board denied service connection for several conditions, granted a 20 percent rating for chronic fatigue syndrome and a compensable rating for allergic rhinitis, but denied higher ratings for other conditions.

The veteran's appeal requests for extensions to file an appeal on various rating decisions were denied, and the attempted appeals are dismissed.

The Board granted an effective date of November 5, 2018 for the award of service connection for radiculopathy in both femoral and sciatic nerves associated with degenerative arthritis with thoracolumbar strain pattern.

The Board granted initial disability ratings of 40 percent for spondylolisthesis lumbar fusion with bone graft low back, right and left lower extremity radiculopathy of the sciatic nerve, and entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) from January 1, 2016.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for thoracolumbar spine disorder, left leg radiculopathy, bilateral restless leg syndrome, and obstructive and central sleep apnea due to a pre-decisional duty to assist error in not obtaining adequate medical opinions.

The Board remands the claim for special monthly compensation based on the need for regular aid and attendance of another person to afford the Veteran a VA examination.

The Board granted a disability rating of 30 percent for right upper extremity cervical radiculopathy and 20 percent for left upper extremity cervical radiculopathy, but remanded the claim for dysphagia.

The Veteran's left lower extremity radiculopathy was granted an effective date of August 24, 2012. The ratings for the other conditions were denied or remanded.

The Board denied earlier effective dates for the Veteran's awards of service connection and denied increased ratings, except for a 20% rating from October 19, 2020 to October 1, 2021 for his lumbar spine disability.

The Board granted service connection for right lower extremity radiculopathy and panic disorder, but denied service connection for chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) and a respiratory disorder.

The Board remands the claim for special monthly compensation to correct a duty to assist error and to obtain an examination regarding potential loss of use of extremities.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for unspecified anxiety disorder, obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), and right lower extremity radiculopathy, as well as a total disability rating based on individual unemployability.