Radiculopathy & sciatica decisions — 2025

The Board granted service connection for sciatic radiculopathy of the RIGHT lower extremity as secondary to degenerative arthritis and degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine, increased the rating for PTSD from 50 percent to 70 percent from September 1, 2017 to July 8, 2019, granted TDIU effective January 1, 2014, and awarded SMC based on housebound status effective September 1, 2017.

The Board denied an initial rating in excess of 20 percent for right sciatic radiculopathy and weakness of the right leg, but granted a TDIU from August 20, 2021, to June 7, 2022.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for a lumbar spine disability and left lower extremity radiculopathy as new evidence has been submitted, while denying readjudication of the right knee and right lower extremity radiculopathy claims.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings and remanded several service connection claims.

The Board denied service connection for a lumbar spine disorder, sciatic nerve disorders of the left and right lower extremities (secondary to a lumbar spine disorder), and a psychiatric disorder.

The Board granted a total disability rating due to individual unemployability (TDIU) but denied increased ratings for low back strain and right lower extremity radiculopathy.

The Board remands the matter of entitlement to a rating in excess of 10 percent for left lower extremity radiculopathy from March 14, 2023, as it did not provide an adequate statement of reasons or bases for its denial.

The Board granted secondary service connection for bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome and denied increased ratings for a cervical spine disability, left upper extremity radiculopathy, and posttraumatic stress disorder with depression/mood disorder.

The Board remands the claims for an effective date prior to December 15, 2016, for gastroesophageal reflux disease, a rating in excess of 10 percent for gastroesophageal reflux disease, and service connection for left lower extremity radiculopathy due to missing records.

The Board denied service connection for hypoglycemia and increased ratings for low back and right lower extremity disabilities. However, it granted a 20 percent rating for the low back disability before July 18, 2018.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for lumbar degenerative disc disease and degenerative arthritis, as well as right and left lower extremity radiculopathy.

The Board revised the March 2022 rating decision to grant increased ratings of 20 percent for right and left leg sciatica, correcting what it deemed as clear and unmistakable errors.

The Board denied an initial increased rating in excess of 10 percent for right lower extremity sciatic radiculopathy as the evidence did not support moderate incomplete paralysis.

The Board denied an increased rating for left lower extremity radiculopathy and denied service connection for traumatic brain injury, chronic headaches, and did not grant service connection for left upper and right upper extremity radiculopathy as secondary to a cervical disability.

The appeal for service connection for right lower extremity sciatica is dismissed, and the effective dates for the grants of service connection for various disabilities are denied.

The Board granted service connection for a back disability, left leg radiculopathy, and sinus disability. An initial 30 percent rating was granted for left hip flexion, while the other left hip ratings were denied.

The Board granted service connection for traumatic brain injury and right lower extremity sciatica, dismissed the appeal as moot. The claims for a rating in excess of 10 percent for tinnitus and ratings in excess of 20 percent for lumbosacral strain with degenerative disc disease and left lower extremity sciatica were denied.

The Board granted service connection for PTSD and depressive disorder, assigned a 70 percent rating for an acquired psychiatric disorder, and denied increased ratings for left and right varicocele. The remaining claims were remanded.

The Board granted the restoration of a 10 percent rating for radiculopathy, right lower extremity (sciatic nerve) associated with lumbar strain DDD and remanded several other claims.

The claim for an earlier effective date for the initial rating of 10 percent for right lower extremity radiculopathy was dismissed as a matter of law, and further development is required for other claims.