Radiculopathy & sciatica decisions — 2025

The Board denied increased ratings for PTSD with alcohol use disorder and OSA, but granted service connection for chronic right wrist sprain, GERD secondary to PTSD, right sciatic pain secondary to lumbosacral strain, and recurrent bilateral ear infections.

The Board denied service connection for a neck and left shoulder disability but granted restoration of the rating for right and left lower extremity radiculopathy.

The Veteran's migraines are reasonably shown to have manifested by very frequent, completely prostrating and prolonged attacks productive of severe economic inadaptability, warranting a 50 percent rating.

The Board denied service connection for sciatica/nerve pain of the left side and an acquired psychological disability other than PTSD, but granted a 70 percent initial rating for PTSD.

The Board denied service connection for radiculopathy of the left and right lower extremity femoral nerves, an evaluation in excess of 20 percent for degenerative arthritis of the spine with status post lumbar discectomy, an evaluation in excess of 10 percent for limitation of motion of the left ankle, and remanded service connection for limitation of motion of the right ankle.

The Board granted an initial rating of 20 percent for right lower extremity radiculopathy but denied a higher rating for the lumbar spine condition and remanded service connection for knee condition.

The Board denied increased ratings for the Veteran's knee and hearing loss conditions, granted a 40% rating for lumbar strain from September 6, 2022 to November 28, 2022, and granted 20% ratings for left and right lower extremity radiculopathy effective from September 6, 2022. The Board remanded service connection for scalp folliculitis.

The Board remands the claims for further development and adjudication by the AOJ.

The Board denied service connection for scars of the bilateral hands and arms, denied higher ratings for knee strain, dyspnea, erectile dysfunction, and tinnitus, and remanded several other issues including service connection for headaches disability.

The Board granted an initial rating of 40 percent for left lower extremity sciatic nerve radiculopathy and special monthly compensation (SMC) based on the need for aid and attendance from July 31, 2012.

The Board granted service connection for cervical degenerative arthritis and right and left upper extremity cervical radiculopathy for accrued benefits purposes, finding that the Veteran's neck manifestations began during and have continued since service and were at least as likely as not caused by service.

The Board granted service connection for a back disability and bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are related to an in-service injury aboard the USS Rushmore.

The Board denied increased ratings for the Veteran's left and right knee disabilities with limitation of flexion, as well as an initial increased rating for his left lower extremity radiculopathy of the sciatic nerve.

The Veteran withdrew the appeal for all service connection claims and higher initial rating claim, resulting in their dismissal.

The Board granted service connection for unspecified anxiety disorder with major depression, pituitary microadenoma benign neoplasm with migraine headaches, and asthma with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), with assigned ratings of 70%, 50%, and 30% respectively. The claims for other conditions were remanded.

The veteran's appeal requests for the rating decisions issued on April 28, 2020, and January 4, 2023, were denied as they were not timely filed.

The Board granted service connection for diabetic peripheral neuropathy as it is etiologically linked to the Veteran's service-connected diabetes. Other claims were remanded for further development.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for restoration of a 40 percent rating and increased ratings for his service-connected lumbosacral strain, left lower extremity radiculopathy, and right lower extremity radiculopathy.

The Board granted service connection for a back disorder, bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy, left ear hearing loss, acquired psychiatric disorders (generalized anxiety disorder and major depressive disorder), and plantar fasciitis of the feet. The claim for right ear hearing loss was denied.

The Board granted a disability rating of 20 percent for right and left lower extremity sciatic radiculopathy from February 19, 2022, but denied higher ratings. The Board also denied an earlier effective date for the increased 40 percent rating for lumbar spine disability.