Radiculopathy & sciatica decisions — 2025

The Board granted service connection for several conditions, including diabetes mellitus and peripheral neuropathy, but denied increased ratings for intervertebral disc syndrome and other conditions.

The Board denied service connection for right and left wrist disabilities, right and left lower extremity radiculopathy, and bilateral hearing loss. However, the claim for headaches was granted, and some claims were remanded.

The Board denied the veteran's appeal for a timely filing of an appeal regarding service connection and initial rating for bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy, as well as other conditions.

The Board granted service connection for low back pain and migraines, effective October 1, 2019. The claim for sciatic nerve pain was remanded.

The Board remands the claims for a compensable initial evaluation and an increased rating for radiculopathy affecting the left external cutaneous nerve due to a pre-decisional duty-to-assist error.

The Board granted a 20 percent rating for the thoracolumbar spine disability and an effective date of November 15, 2011, for the grants of service connection for radiculopathy of both lower extremities. The initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss was denied.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for her service-connected low back disability and sciatic radiculopathy in both lower extremities, as the evidence did not support a higher rating based on the applicable criteria.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings and earlier effective dates for service-connected radiculopathies, as well as an earlier effective date for DEA benefits.

The Board granted service connection for tinnitus and remanded the claims for service connection for various other conditions, as well as increased rating claims.

The Board granted service connection for lumbosacral strain, left and right lower extremity radiculopathy, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), and a compensable disability rating for tension/common headaches.

The Board awarded an effective date of March 8, 2021 for migraine headaches and a rating of 10 percent for service-connected traumatic brain injury (TBI), but denied earlier effective dates for other conditions.

The Board denied increased ratings for the veteran's major depressive disorder, lumbosacral strain, right and left lower extremity radiculopathy, chronic right ankle instability, and bilateral hearing loss. The claims for service connection for sleep apnea and gastrointestinal disorder were remanded.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for left lower extremity sciatic radiculopathy and onychomycosis due to inadequate medical opinions.

The Board granted service connection for sleep apnea, lumbar spine degenerative disc disease with intervertebral disc syndrome, and pseudofolliculitis barbae, among other issues, with specific ratings and effective dates.

The Board denied service connection for left ankle pain, right ankle pain, left hip pain, right hip pain, and left knee pain but granted service connection for left upper extremity radiculopathy and right upper extremity radiculopathy. The Board also denied a compensable evaluation for hammer toe deformities of the feet and a rating in excess of 10 percent for degenerative changes of the left acromioclavicular joint, while granting a single 10 percent evaluation for bilateral foot plantar fasciitis.

The Board granted an initial increased disability evaluation rating of 40 percent for service-connected left and right lower extremity radiculopathy, sciatic. The other issues were remanded.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and denied increased ratings for PTSD, thoracic spine disability, and left lower extremity radiculopathy. However, the effective date of August 4, 2023, was granted for a 70 percent evaluation for PTSD.

The Veteran was granted a temporary total disability rating for two months due to convalescence after cervical spine surgery, but the claims for increased ratings for his service-connected conditions were denied.

The Board denied service connection for various disabilities and denied increased ratings for the Veteran's cervical spine, lumbar spine, and PTSD.

The Board denied service connection for PTSD and remanded the claims for degenerative disc disease of the cervical spine, left upper extremity radiculopathy, and right upper extremity radiculopathy.