Radiculopathy & sciatica decisions — 2026

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for higher ratings for left hip arthritis and total left hip replacement, spinal stenosis and spondylolisthesis, and right leg radiculopathy due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the effects of medication on his service-connected conditions.

The Veteran meets the criteria for a TDIU and DEA eligibility on and after February 7, 2022.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal for service connection of right upper extremity radiculopathy before the Board could make a decision.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have been granted effective December 22, 2022.,However, the RO has remanded for further evaluation of his lower extremity disabilities.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings were denied as there was no factually ascertainable increase in disability within the year prior to the receipt of his claims.,The Veteran's lumbar spine IVDS is currently rated at 10 percent under Diagnostic Code 5243, and he seeks a higher rating.

The Veteran's service-connected acquired psychiatric disorder is found to include sleep disturbances, which are granted as a secondary condition. The claims for sleep apnea and right big toe disability are denied. Other rating appeals are dismissed due to procedural defects.

The Veteran's service connection claims for bilateral eye dryness, irritation, and light sensitivity; cervical spine bulging discs, cervicalgia, hypertrophic facet disease, narrowing of neural foramina, spinal stenosis, and spondylosis; spinal stenosis and spondylosis of the lumbar spine; radiculopathy of the bilateral upper extremities; and radiculopathy of the bilateral lower extremities are all granted. However, his claim for service connection for a heart condition is denied.

The Board has granted an earlier effective date of September 4, 2019 for the Veteran's scar (back surgery residuals). The remaining claims are remanded due to duty-to-assist errors.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for left lower extremity radiculopathy and incomplete paralysis of the common peroneal nerve was denied as his disability does not meet or approximate the criteria for a higher rating under the applicable VA rating criteria.

The Board has vacated the decisions denying earlier effective dates for erectile dysfunction and bilateral lower extremity neuropathies, and has remanded these issues to allow for a determination on whether there was clear and unmistakable error in the September 10, 2019 rating decision.

The June 6, 2019 rating decision granted service connection for radiculopathy of the right lower extremity with a 20% rating effective March 16, 2019, and denied an increased rating for IVDS. The Veteran's claim was not considered to be based on clear and unmistakable error (CUE).

The Board has found that the VA opinions of record are inadequate and remands the case for addendum VA opinions to address the nature and etiology of the Veteran's bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy.

The Board has dismissed the appeals for left lower extremity radiculopathy, PTSD with depression, hypervigilance, insomnia, and intermittent explosive disorder (PTSD), and lumbar spondylosis with degenerative disc disease and facet arthropathy (lumbar spine DDD) as the Veteran withdrew his appeal prior to promulgation of a decision.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings of right and left lower extremity sciatic nerve radiculopathy are being remanded due to the need to obtain additional private treatment records.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not render him unable to obtain or maintain a gainful occupation for the period from August 27, 2009, to February 27, 2020.

The Veteran's lumbosacral strain and radiculopathy of the right lower extremity have been granted initial disability ratings of 40 percent each, effective as of January 22, 2026.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed due to new evidence being added to the record. The case will be returned to the AOJ for initial review.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, sleep apnea, and various musculoskeletal conditions, have resulted in a combined rating of 100 percent. The Board has granted SMC at the M-rate due to his need for special aid and attendance.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability, left lower extremity radiculopathy (sciatic), right lower extremity radiculopathy (sciatic), and right lower extremity radiculopathy (femoral) disabilities have been granted increased ratings effective February 28, 2024.,The Veteran's service connection for the left lower extremity radiculopathy (femoral) disability has also been granted effective February 28, 2024. However, an earlier effective date is denied as there was no evidence of entitlement prior to this date.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss was evaluated at 0 percent, and the claim for an increased rating was denied.,The Veteran's hypertension was evaluated at 0 percent, and the claim for an increased rating was denied.,Service connection for left leg numbness, sciatica numbness and pain was not granted as secondary to service-connected lumbar strain.