Radiculopathy & sciatica decisions — 2025

The Board granted service connection for a lumbar spine condition and denied an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for allergic rhinitis, while remanding the other issues.

The Board remands the case to obtain a medical opinion for the Veteran's bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy due to pre-decisional duty to assist errors.

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

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities prevented him from obtaining or maintaining substantially gainful employment and required regular aid and attendance to perform activities of daily living, effective February 22, 2021.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including radiculopathy of the left upper and lower extremities, bilateral knee scars, a headache condition, and lumbosacral strain.

The Board denied earlier effective dates for the award of service connection and higher ratings for various disabilities, including a neck scar, cervical spine disability, left upper extremity radiculopathy, and eligibility for Dependents' Educational Assistance.

The Board granted increased ratings for left and right lower extremity radiculopathy to 20 percent, but no higher, from October 26, 2021, and an initial rating of 70 percent for persistent depressive disorder with anxious distress from April 27, 2021, but denied other increased ratings.

The Board granted service connection and increased ratings for multiple conditions, including thoracolumbar spine spondylosis with disc herniation, right ankle fracture residuals, right shoulder impingement syndrome, left ankle strain, left shoulder bicipital tendon tear, rotator cuff tear with arthritis status post-surgery and chronic post-procedural pain, left lower extremity radiculopathy, and right lower extremity radiculopathy.

The veteran withdrew all pending claims as he has an overall 100 percent disability rating.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for a lumbar spine disability and left lower extremity (LLE) radiculopathy involving the sciatic nerve, finding that the evidence did not support a finding of an in-service injury or onset of symptoms related to these conditions.

The Board denied increased ratings for the Veteran's cervical spine and right and left upper extremity disabilities, finding that the current ratings accurately reflect the severity of his disabilities.

The Board remands the claims for a lumbar spine degenerative disc disease, right lower extremity sciatic nerve radiculopathy, and left lower extremity sciatic nerve radiculopathy to ensure that there is a complete record upon which to decide the claim.

The Board granted service connection for a lower back disorder, including lumbosacral strain, intervertebral disc syndrome (IVDS), and bilateral lumbar radiculopathy.

The Board granted service connection for a low back disability, left lower sciatic radiculopathy, and right lower sciatic radiculopathy. The claims for increased ratings for PTSD, bilateral plantar fasciitis, bilateral shin splints, migraines, left knee strain with patellofemoral pain syndrome, and right knee strain with patellofemoral pain syndrome were denied or remanded.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy to obtain a new VA examination and medical opinion.

The Veteran was granted an effective date of January 10, 2023 for a 50 percent rating for migraine headaches and TDIU based on PTSD. SMC based on housebound status was also granted.

The Board remands the claims for further development and to correct duty-to-assist errors related to the Veteran's back condition, left leg pain, hypertension, tinnitus, knee strain, and sleep apnea.

The Board granted service connection for right and left lower extremity radiculopathy, but remanded claims for type II diabetes mellitus, urinary frequency condition, and erectile dysfunction.

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 denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and an increased rating for status post bunionectomy and hallux rigidus of the left great toe, and remanded several other claims related to various conditions.