Radiculopathy & sciatica decisions — 2025

The Board granted service connection for several conditions, including right upper extremity bradykinesia and tremors, with an effective date of January 6, 2021. The claim for a higher rating for neurocognitive disorder was denied.

The Board granted service connection for a low back disability and associated lumbar radiculopathy, left lower extremity (LLE), on a secondary basis due to the Veteran's service-connected neck disability.

The Board remands the veteran's claims for an increased rating and service connection due to duty-to-assist errors, including outstanding treatment records and inadequate VA examinations.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have prevented him from engaging in substantially gainful employment since December 13, 2010.

The Board denied entitlement to increased ratings for the lumbar spine condition and a TDIU, but granted entitlement to a total disability based on individual unemployability (TDIU) due to service-connected disabilities.

The Board granted service connection for cervical spine degenerative arthritis, degenerative disc disease, spinal stenosis, spondylolisthesis, post laminectomy syndrome, and surgical fusion C5/6 and C6/7, as well as bilateral cervical radiculopathy of the upper extremities, secondary to these conditions.

The Board granted service connection for lumbosacral strain with multilevel degenerative disc and facet disease, right leg radiculopathy, left leg radiculopathy, obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), and assigned initial ratings of 20 percent for a left ankle strain, 30 percent for chronic sinusitis, and 30 percent for headaches.

The Board denied earlier effective dates for the grant of service connection and remanded claims for higher disability ratings, etiological opinions, and TDIU.

The Board granted an initial 10 percent rating for the Veteran's service-connected tension headaches, finding that his symptoms nearly approximate a 10 percent rating. The remaining claims were remanded.

The Board dismissed the Veteran's appeals for service connection for right and left lower extremity sciatic nerve problems, as these issues are now considered resolved. The appeal was also remanded to address a broken nose and knee disability claims.

The Board denied a rating in excess of 10 percent for restless leg syndrome affecting both the sciatic and femoral nerve branches in the right and left lower extremities.

The Board remands the claims for increased ratings and TDIU due to deficiencies in the VA examinations.

The Board granted an earlier effective date of June 14, 2019, for the assignment of a 20 percent rating for right and left lower extremity radiculopathy but denied it for degenerative disc disease, lumbar spine.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings and granted a TDIU.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings and earlier effective dates, as well as remanded certain radiculopathy claims.

The Board granted service connection for IBS, chronic sinusitis, left and right lower extremity radiculopathy (secondary to lumbar spine disability), increased ratings for the lumbar and cervical spine disabilities, and increased ratings for knee instability and upper extremity radiculopathy. Tension headaches were also granted an initial rating.

The Board remands the claims for service connection and increased ratings to correct errors by the AOJ, including obtaining medical opinions that adequately address the Veteran's symptoms and medical history.

The Board remands the Veteran's claims for further development, including obtaining Social Security Administration records and a new VA opinion regarding service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability.

The Board remands the claims for increased ratings and TDIU due to incomplete VA examinations and a need for additional medical opinions.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and left ankle pain, and remanded the claims for increased ratings in excess of 30 percent for chronic headaches, 20 percent for a back disability, 10 percent for a neck disability, 20 percent for radiculopathy of the left upper extremity, and 10 percent for right foot plantar fasciitis, as well as service connection for a traumatic brain injury.