Radiculopathy & sciatica decisions — 2025

The Veteran's major depressive disorder and hysterectomy (previously rated as disease or injury of the uterus) were granted, while other claims for service connection were remanded. An increased rating to 30 percent was also granted for the hysterectomy.

The Board granted increased ratings for intervertebral disc syndrome, left and right ankle disabilities but remanded the claims for other joint conditions due to insufficient evidence.

The Board remands multiple claims for higher initial ratings and other benefits due to the need for additional development, including an examination regarding atrophy in the Veteran's legs.

The Board denied service connection for a vision disability, to include hyperopia and presbyopia, and remanded several other claims including those for kidney, hypertension, sleep apnea, diabetes mellitus, lower extremity neuropathy, hip, knee, heart, neck, upper extremity radiculopathy, and TDIU.

The appeal was dismissed by the Veteran's request in a statement submitted on September 18, 2025.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for a low back disability, left lower extremity radiculopathy, and right lower extremity radiculopathy due to an inadequate VA examination.

The Board denied increased ratings for the Veteran's generalized anxiety disorder, painful surgical scars on both feet, and non-compensable ratings for left and right foot surgical scars. The claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and various musculoskeletal conditions were remanded.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for service connection for left and right lower extremity radiculopathy, finding that the earliest effective date was July 14, 2023.

The Board granted service connection for nocturnal bruxism, radiculopathy of the lower and upper extremities, and a headache disability, and assigned an initial 30 percent rating for the headache disability.

The Board denied an initial disability rating in excess of 10 percent for the service-connected right lower extremity radiculopathy and granted a separate disability rating of 10 percent, but no higher, for right lower extremity radiculopathy of the femoral nerve. Similarly, it denied an initial disability rating in excess of 20 percent for the service-connected left lower extremity radiculopathy and granted a separate disability rating of 20 percent, but no higher, for left lower extremity radiculopathy of the femoral nerve.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for a lower back disability and bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy due to inadequate VA examinations.

The Board denied service connection for radiculopathy impacting the right and left lower extremities, but granted service connection for a left ankle strain due to its association with a service-connected right ankle disability.

The Board denied earlier effective dates and higher initial ratings for the service-connected conditions of degenerative disc disease, sciatic nerve radiculopathy in both lower extremities, and remanded a claim for total disability rating based on individual unemployability.

The Board denied service connection for a left wrist disability, right wrist disability, and an increased rating in excess of 40 percent for right lower extremity radiculopathy of the sciatic nerve.

The Board remands the claims for a rating in excess of 20 percent for lumbosacral strain with degenerative disc disease, and service connection for right and left lower extremity radiculopathy as secondary to the back disability due to inadequate examination reports.

The Board granted service connection for tongue ulcer and denied an increased initial rating in excess of 30 percent for bronchial asthma with bronchitis. The claims for higher ratings for lumbosacral strain, bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy were remanded.

The Board granted service connection for right and left lower extremity radiculopathies as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected degenerative changes of the lower lumbar spine, but denied service connection for a hematoma of the forehead region, residuals of testicular torsion, an acquired psychiatric disorder, and obstructive sleep apnea. The Board also granted an initial 50 percent rating for degenerative changes of the lower lumbar spine.

The Board denied the veteran's attempts to appeal rating decisions due to untimeliness of the appeals.

The Veteran withdrew all of his pending appeals explicitly, unambiguously, and with a full understanding of the consequences thereof.

The Board granted an increased rating of 40 percent for the Veteran's radiculopathy, right upper extremity, effective March 12, 2024.