Radiculopathy & sciatica decisions — 2025

The Board remands the claims for service connection of left and right knee pain as secondary to lower extremity radiculopathy due to a pre-decisional duty to assist error.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for service connection of left lower extremity sciatic radiculopathy, left upper extremity lower radicular group radiculopathy, and right upper extremity upper radicular group radiculopathy.

The Board granted earlier effective dates for service connection and a higher disability rating for the Veteran's psychiatric condition.

The Board granted an earlier effective date of August 11, 2011, for the award of a 20 percent rating for left lower extremity radiculopathy and denied an earlier effective date for a 40 percent rating for degenerative arthritis of the spine with intervertebral disc syndrome.

The appeal for service connection for right lower extremity radiculopathy, sciatic nerve, was dismissed because the Board granted service connection in a February 2025 rating decision.

The appeal for higher ratings for radiculopathy in the left and right lower extremities was withdrawn by the veteran, leading to the dismissal of these claims. However, TDIU was granted due to the impact of his service-connected disabilities on his ability to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board granted an initial 20 percent rating for left lower extremity radiculopathy, finding that the Veteran's symptoms more nearly approximated moderate incomplete paralysis of the sciatic nerve.

The Board denied the claims for earlier effective dates for a 40 percent rating for back disorder and service connection for bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy, as there was no evidence of the required disability prior to September 11, 2023.

The Board remands the issues of entitlement to increased ratings and earlier effective dates for various service-connected conditions, as well as a TDIU claim, due to insufficient medical evidence.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for a lumbar spine disability, right lower extremity sciatic nerve radiculopathy, left lower extremity sciatic nerve radiculopathy, left knee strain, and gallbladder stones to secure missing SSA records and obtain an adequate medical opinion.

The Board denied an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for the Veteran's disabilities and ancillary compensation benefits, finding that August 8, 2023, was correctly assigned as the effective date.

The Board denied a rating in excess of 20 percent for lumbago but granted a separate 10 percent rating for radiculopathy of the right lower extremity.

The Board granted service connection for tinnitus and right foot sprain, denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss, and denied an increased rating for left lower leg radiculopathy of the sciatic nerve and lumbosacral strain. The issues related to right hip strain, right knee pain, left knee strain, and an acquired psychiatric disorder were remanded.

The Board granted an effective date of July 29, 2022, and no earlier for the grant of a 20 percent disability rating for degenerative joint disease of the lumbosacral spine and intervertebral disc syndrome, as well as service connection for radiculopathy of the right and left lower extremities.

The Veteran's lower back disability is increased to 20 percent disabling, and the service connection for right ear hearing loss and cervical strain is granted.,The appeal for an increased rating for radiculopathy of the left lower extremity was denied.,The appeals for service connection for left ear hearing loss, CFS, constipation, functional abdominal pain syndrome/abdominal pain and bloating/GERD, and respiratory insufficiency (dyspnea) were denied.,Service connection for dry eyes is granted, and the right hip pain is secondary to the Veteran's service-connected lower back disability.

The Veteran withdrew the appeal for service connection for chronic back pain, right lower extremity radiculopathy, and a left knee disability secondary to the service-connected right knee patellofemoral syndrome.

The Board denied service connection for right ear hearing loss, a neck condition, a right hip condition, TBI, right lower extremity neuralgic of sciatic nerve, left lower extremity neuralgic of sciatic nerve, and migraine as the evidence did not support the claims.

The Board remands the claims for a lumbar spine disability, radiculopathy of both lower extremities, right shoulder and wrist disabilities, and an acquired psychiatric disorder to obtain additional VA medical opinions.

The Board granted a 20 percent rating for right and left lower extremity radiculopathy of the sciatic nerve and femoral nerve, but denied TDIU.

The Board remands the case for a new VA examination and to obtain outstanding treatment records, as there is an apparent internal inconsistency in the May 2024 VA examination and indications of worsening since that examination.