Radiculopathy & sciatica decisions — 2025

The Veteran was granted a 40 percent rating for her sacroiliitis, effective November 23, 2010, and service connection for right and left lower extremity radiculopathy of the sciatic nerve as secondary to her service-connected sacroiliitis.

The Veteran withdrew all issues on appeal, and the Board dismissed the appeal.

The Board denied service connection for chronic fatigue syndrome, bilateral hearing loss, and left sciatic radiculopathy as the evidence of record did not support a finding that these conditions were incurred in or caused by active military service. The issues related to pain of lumbar spine, left foot condition (pes planus and plantar fasciitis), and right foot condition (pes planus and plantar fasciitis) are remanded for further development.

The Board granted an effective date of May 27, 2021, for the award of separate ratings for right and left lower extremity radiculopathy but denied an earlier effective date for service connection for GERD. The TDIU claim was also denied.

The Board granted an earlier effective date of April 14, 2012, for the awards of service connection for sciatic nerve radiculopathy of both lower extremities.

The Board granted an initial disability rating of 70 percent, but no higher, for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) based on the severity and frequency of symptoms that more closely approximated occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas.

The Board granted a 40 percent disability rating for degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine with herniated disc at L3-L5 and IVDS, denied ratings in excess of 10 percent for left ankle sprain and left knee patellofemoral pain syndrome, and granted earlier effective dates for service connection for certain conditions.

The Board granted service connection for left shoulder strain, left leg radiculopathy as secondary to lumbosacral strain, and right leg radiculopathy as secondary to lumbosacral strain. The Board also granted an increased disability rating of 40 percent for the Veteran's lumbosacral strain.

The appeal for service connection for left and right lower extremity radiculopathy was dismissed as the Veteran withdrew his appeal. The claims for an acquired psychiatric disorder and sleep disturbances were remanded.

The Board granted an initial evaluation of 20 percent for the left ankle lateral collateral ligament sprain and denied a rating in excess of 20 percent for right lower extremity radiculopathy, while denying service connection for hearing loss.

The Board denied an increased rating for PTSD, finding that the Veteran's symptoms more closely approximated occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity.

The Board dismissed the appeals for earlier effective dates of service connection for various radiculopathies and a scar, as the September 2024 Board decision was not properly appealed.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for a compensable rating for pseudofolliculitis barbae and service connection for dermatosis of the hands, but remanded the claim for service connection for a neurological condition.

The Board granted a disability rating of 20 percent for both the left and right lower extremity radiculopathy (sciatic) effective October 14, 2022.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral lower extremity peripheral neuropathy and right upper extremity cervical radiculopathy, dismissed the claim for left upper extremity cervical radiculopathy of the lower radicular group, but granted service connection for a bilateral ankle, hip, and knee disability.

The Board denied service connection for a left shoulder disability and remanded claims for headaches, heart disease, hypertension, an acquired psychiatric disorder, a left leg condition, a lumbar spine issue, and right lower extremity radiculopathy.

The Board granted service connection for left and right lower extremity radiculopathy, finding that these conditions are caused by the Veteran's service-connected back condition.

The Board denied service connection for rhinitis and a neck disability, but remanded claims for sleep apnea and sciatica due to insufficient evidence.

The Board granted initial 20% and later 40% evaluations for various radiculopathies and peripheral neuropathies based on the severity of symptoms.

The Veteran withdrew his entire appeal, and the Board dismissed all related issues.