Radiculopathy & sciatica decisions — 2025

The Board granted a 10 percent rating for left hip strain but denied an evaluation in excess of 10 percent for the right lower nerve extremity condition with sciatic nerve involvement.

The veteran has withdrawn the appeal for all service connection claims.

The Board denied earlier effective dates for the awards of service connection and ratings for various conditions, including left knee limitation of extension, left knee (subluxation/instability), left knee degenerative arthritis, cervical spine degenerative arthritis with spondylolisthesis, left upper cervical radiculopathy, and headaches associated with a traumatic brain injury.

The Board granted increased disability evaluations for right and left lower extremity radiculopathy of the sciatic nerve, but dismissed the appeal regarding service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder.

The Board granted attorney fees for service connection of OSA and ED, and SMC based on loss of use of a creative organ, but denied fees for an increased rating for psychiatric disorder and other PN conditions.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings and earlier effective dates, finding that the evidence did not support a compensable evaluation or an earlier effective date.

The Board denied service connection for cervical spine disability, left and right upper extremity radiculopathy, lower back disability, left and right lower extremity radiculopathy, and remanded the claim of service connection for migraine headaches.

The Board granted an initial rating of 10 percent for hallux valgus of the right and left foot, effective November 30, 2004. The claim for a higher rating for left lower extremity radiculopathy was denied.

The Board denied earlier effective dates for the grants of service connection and initial disability ratings for various conditions, including an acquired psychiatric disability, right hip femoral acetabular impingement syndrome status post repair, a back disability, and right lower extremity radiculopathy.

The Board remands the claim for a rating greater than 20 percent for service-connected left lower extremity radiculopathy due to an inadequate medical examination.

The Board granted a 20 percent disability rating for radiculopathy of the right lower extremity, sciatic nerve but denied an initial compensable disability rating for right knee strain, limitation of extension.

The Board denied increased ratings for PTSD, cervical radiculopathy, allergic rhinitis, restless leg syndrome, and migraines but granted a 20 percent rating for undiagnosed illness with symptoms of joint ache and fatigue. Service connection was also denied for chronic sinusitis.

The Board granted service connection for pseudofolliculitis barbae, migraines, hypertension, low back condition, left and right lower extremity radiculopathies as secondary to the low back condition, cervical strain with degenerative changes of the cervical spine, left and right upper extremity radiculopathies as secondary to the cervical strain, left knee degenerative joint disease, right knee condition, left and right ankle conditions.

The Board granted service connection for status post reconstruction of right nasal side-wall defect with advancement flap with pharyngitis and remanded the other issues.

The Board granted a rating of 40 percent for the lumbosacral strain from May 18, 2023, to December 12, 2023, and denied ratings in excess of 20 percent prior to May 18, 2023, and in excess of 40 percent since December 12, 2023. Service connection for bilateral radiculopathy of the lower extremities was also granted as secondary to a service-connected lumbar spine disability.

The Board granted a 20 percent rating for right and left lower extremity radiculopathy, sciatic nerve.

The Board denied the claim for an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for left knee strain and patellofemoral pain syndrome, finding that the evidence did not support a higher rating. The claims for service connection for various leg and foot disabilities were remanded.

The Veteran was granted a 40 percent disability rating for radiculopathy of the left lower extremity, but ratings in excess of 10 percent were denied for right ankle and left Achilles tendonitis disabilities.

The Board granted a 20 percent initial rating for bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy, sciatic nerve and denied the claims for an earlier effective date prior to January 25, 2022, and increased ratings for unspecified depressive disorder.

The Board dismissed the veteran's claims for service connection for a smashed hip, left arm and hand disability, plantar fasciitis, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), and hand tremors due to filing on incorrect forms.