Radiculopathy & sciatica decisions — 2025

The Board granted earlier effective dates of September 22, 2022, for service connection and increased ratings based on the Veteran's intent to file a claim received on that date.

The Board denied increased ratings for the Veteran's recurrent dislocation of the right shoulder and residual surgical scar of the right shoulder, but remanded a claim for service connection for right upper extremity radiculopathy.

The Board granted restoration of a 20 percent rating for left lower extremity radiculopathy and denied increased ratings for intervertebral disc syndrome with degenerative disc disease/arthritis, right lower extremity radiculopathy, and left lower extremity radiculopathy. TDIU was granted from November 22, 2022.

The Board has dismissed the appeal for service connection for lumbosacral strain with degenerative arthritis and related conditions, as well as obstructive sleep apnea.

The Board denied service connection for a low back disability and radiculopathy of the left lower extremity, but granted an evaluation of 30 percent for hiatal hernia with GERD.

The Veteran is granted an extraschedular total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) from April 16, 2009.

The Board granted service connection for left sciatica and degenerative arthritis of the left knee, as both conditions were found to be caused by service-connected disabilities.

The Board granted an initial rating of 40 percent for radiculopathy, right lower extremity.

The appeal was dismissed due to the Veteran's failure to respond within 60 days of being informed that he selected too many Board review options.

The Board denied the Veteran's request for an earlier effective date for the increased rating of 40 percent for right lower extremity radiculopathy, finding that it is not factually ascertainable that the increase in severity occurred within a year prior to June 1, 2021.

The Board remands the claims for service connection and an initial rating for MRSA residuals, as well as secondary conditions related to those residuals, due to inadequate medical opinions.

The Board granted an initial evaluation of 20 percent, but no higher, prior to July 23, 2021, for service-connected spinal stenosis with IVDS and an evaluation of 40 percent, but no higher, effective July 23, 2021. The claim for an earlier effective date for the award of service connection for bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy was denied.

The Board granted an initial rating of 40 percent for the Veteran's service-connected back disability, and service connection for sleep apnea and right leg radiculopathy as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected back disability.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss as the evidence did not support a finding that it was due to service, began during active service, or is otherwise related to an in-service injury or disease.

The Board remands the issues of an initial rating in excess of 20 percent for a back disability, and separate compensable ratings for right and left lower extremity sciatic radiculopathy prior to August 12, 2018, due to inadequate medical opinions.

The Board remands the claims for further development, including obtaining additional medical evidence and readjudicating the claims.

The Board remands the issues of an initial disability rating in excess of 20 percent for left lower extremity radiculopathy and entitlement to a TDIU prior to August 12, 2023, due to insufficient medical evidence.

The Board denied the veteran's appeal for a higher rating, finding that his left upper extremity peripheral neuropathy did not meet the criteria for a disability rating in excess of 30 percent prior to May 12, 2024, and 60 percent from May 12, 2024.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU, finding that the evidence did not support higher ratings or an earlier effective date for a TTD rating.

The Board denied a higher disability rating for chronic lumbosacral strain with spinal stenosis but granted 20 percent ratings for right and left lower extremity radiculopathy.