Radiculopathy & sciatica decisions — 2025

The Board granted service connection for sinusitis, bilateral flatfeet, and tinnitus, assigned an initial 10 percent rating for sinusitis, and remanded claims related to ankle and respiratory disabilities.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for low back pain and sciatic radiculopathy of both lower extremities to obtain a VA examination and medical opinion.

The Board remands the claim for an initial evaluation in excess of 20 percent for right upper extremity radiculopathy due to an inadequate VA examination.

The Board denied service connection for right ear and left ear hearing loss, an increased rating for depressive disorder with anxiety disorder and insomnia, and an increased rating for bilateral plantar fasciitis. The issues of entitlement to service connection for bilateral flatfoot (pes planus) and right lower extremity radiculopathy were remanded.

The Board granted an August 10, 2022 effective date for the grant of service connection for hypothyroidism and denied increased ratings for tinnitus and a nonpainful and stable scar on the lumbar midline. Other claims were remanded.

The Board granted service connection for sinusitis and a separate disability rating of 10 percent for radiculopathy of the right leg, while denying a compensable rating for allergic rhinitis and a higher rating for degenerative arthritis of the spine.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for a compensable rating for left ear hearing loss and service connection for major depressive disorder, among other issues. The decision also remanded several claims for further development.

The Board granted service connection for right and left lower extremity lumbar radiculopathy, finding that these conditions are secondary to the Veteran's service-connected lumbar spine degenerative arthritis.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings and total disability based on individual unemployability, as the evidence did not support a finding of severe to complete paralysis in any of the left lower extremity radiculopathy conditions.

The veteran withdrew the appeal, and all claims were dismissed.

The Board granted an effective date of October 27, 2021, for the award of service connection for residual scar status post squamous cell carcinoma but denied an earlier effective date for back disability.

The Board remands the matters on appeal for the development requested by the Court, specifically requesting that the AOJ obtain private treatment records from Active Health Chiropractic.

The Board denied the Veteran's appeal for a rating in excess of 20 percent for right lower extremity radiculopathy (sciatic nerve) from January 17, 2019, and remanded the issues of an initial rating in excess of 20 percent for lumbar spine intervertebral disc syndrome and entitlement to Special Monthly Compensation.

The Veteran's bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy was granted a disability rating of 40 percent, but no higher, from October 2, 2017.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection, finding that the evidence did not support higher ratings or service connection.

The Board granted an initial rating of 20 percent for left lower extremity radiculopathy, sciatic nerve, resolving reasonable doubt in the Veteran's favor.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unable to care for his daily needs without requiring the regular aid and attendance of another person, and he is granted an increased disability rating of 20 percent for left and right lower extremity lumbar radiculopathy.

The Board granted the restoration of a 20 percent rating for right lower extremity radiculopathy from September 10, 2024, and granted separate ratings for left and right lower extremity neuralgia. The lumbar spine disability was denied a higher rating.

The Board granted service connection for hemorrhoids as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). The claims for a back disability and left lower extremity radiculopathy were remanded for further development.

The Board granted restoration of a 20 percent rating for left lower extremity radiculopathy effective May 7, 2024, as the reduction was improper.