Radiculopathy & sciatica decisions — 2025

The Board granted service connection for a separate 50 percent initial rating for insomnia as secondary to tinnitus, and denied an increased rating for tinnitus. The Board also granted service connection for headache disability, low back disability, left lower extremity radiculopathy, cervical spine disability, and right upper extremity radiculopathy.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for a low back disorder with radiculopathy of the lower extremities and bilateral hip and knee disorders due to the need for VA examinations.

The Board denied the claims for earlier effective dates and remanded several service connection claims.

The Board dismissed the appeals for earlier effective dates of service connection and DEA benefits, as they were not properly before the Board. The issues related to increased ratings and TDIU/Special Monthly Compensation (SMC) are remanded.

The Board restored a 30 percent rating for left upper extremity radiculopathy, granted an increased evaluation of 70 percent for right upper extremity radiculopathy and granted an increased evaluation of 30 percent for cervical strain with intervertebral disc syndrome and degenerative changes status post fusion C5-C7.

The Board denied earlier effective dates for the award of service connection and denied increased ratings for various disabilities, but granted a separate rating for left upper extremity radiculopathy from October 20, 2020.

The Board granted service connection for lumbosacral strain and bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy based on a direct link to the Veteran's military service.

The Board granted an effective date of November 29, 2018, for left lower extremity radiculopathy and a rating of 40 percent from that date.

The Board denied the veteran's appeals for increased ratings and remanded certain issues, including TDIU and SMC.

The Board granted service connection for radiculopathy of the right upper and lower extremities but denied an increased rating for functional abdominal pain syndrome.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for a low back disorder, left lower extremity radiculopathy, right lower extremity radiculopathy, and traumatic brain injury due to a pre-decisional duty to assist error.

The Board denied service connection for gastroesophageal reflux disease, obstructive sleep apnea, and right and left knee disabilities. The claims for headaches, a lumbar spine disability, and left lower extremity radiculopathy were remanded.

The Board granted a 20 percent initial rating for bilateral dry eye syndrome and service connection for left knee strain, but denied other claims including increased ratings for right lower extremity radiculopathy, bilateral hearing loss, incomplete right bundle branch block (claimed as cardiac arrhythmia), degenerative disc disease of the thoracolumbar spine with IVDS, scarring of the left inguinal area, status post varicocele surgery, and service connection for left shoulder strain and restless leg syndrome.

The Board remands the claims for earlier effective dates due to pre-decisional duty-to-assist errors and inadequate VA examinations.

The Board granted an effective date of March 27, 2020, for the grant of service connection for IVDS with spondylosis and denied earlier effective dates for left and right sciatic radiculopathy. The Board also denied increased ratings for IVDS with spondylosis and sciatic radiculopathies and granted a TDIU from June 1, 2020.

The Board dismissed the appeal for restoration of a 40 percent rating for lumbar spine degenerative arthritis and a 20 percent rating for lower left extremity radiculopathy as the ratings were restored in an April 30, 2025 Higher-Level Review (HLR) rating decision.

The Board granted an earlier effective date of March 30, 2017, for a 20 percent rating for left and right lower extremity radiculopathy.

The Board granted earlier effective dates for the award of increased ratings for a lumbar disability and lower extremity radiculopathies, effective August 4, 2022.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities rendered him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation, warranting a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU).

The Board remands the claims for further development, including obtaining a retrospective medical opinion regarding the severity of the Veteran's service-connected conditions without the use of pain medication and securing the credentials of the VA examiners.