Radiculopathy & sciatica decisions — 2026

The Veteran's claim for an initial evaluation in excess of 10 percent for service-connected femoral nerve radiculopathy of the right lower extremity associated with lumbosacral strain is being remanded due to a lack of adequate medical opinion at the time of the January 2025 rating decision.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for gastrointestinal conditions other than diverticulitis, left and right lower extremity sciatic nerve radiculopathy, and bilateral foot pain have been denied. The Board found no current diagnoses of these conditions during the appeal period.

The Veteran's radiculopathy of the left and right lower extremities is rated at 20 percent, effective from the date of the August 2024 rating decision.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions have been granted, with some increased evaluations and others denied. The effective dates for the grants are April 22, 2025.

The Veteran's claim for increased ratings for lumbosacral strain, lower extremity radiculopathy (sciatic and femoral nerves), right knee disability, and cervical spine disorder was granted with effective dates of June 9, 2023.

The Veteran's service connection for CTS, left, is granted. The claim for a separate disability manifested by left hand pain that is distinct from CTS, left, is denied due to lack of evidence supporting such a condition.

The Veteran's sciatica of the right and left lower extremities are rated at 20 percent each, effective September 1, 2024. The Veteran's back condition is rated at 50 percent from April 27, 2020 to July 13, 2020, and 20 percent thereafter.

The Board denied service connection for right and left lumbar radiculopathy as the underlying primary low back disability is not an adjudicated service-connected condition.

The Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for increased disability ratings are denied as there is no factually ascertainable increase in the disabilities within the one-year look back period.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss, headache disorder, residual pain of lumbar spine, sciatica of the left lower extremity, and sciatica of the right lower extremity all related to the Veteran's period of active duty training (ACDUTRA) from May 2, 1986 to August 30, 1986.

The Board has determined that the previous decision denying eligibility for PCAFC benefits is legally inadequate and requires further review. The Veteran's functional limitations due to his service-connected conditions have not been adequately considered in determining whether he qualifies for PCAFC.

The Board has granted service connection for a lumbar spine disability and sciatic nerve radiculopathy, both secondary to the Veteran's service-connected lumbar spine disability.

The Veteran's left lower extremity radiculopathy, sciatic and external popliteal nerve is granted a 40 percent rating from October 2, 2024. The right lower extremity radiculopathy, sciatic nerve remains at 20 percent.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further action on the issue of service connection for erectile dysfunction.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further development, including a VA examination to assess the impact of his service-connected disabilities on his acquired psychiatric disability and to determine if he should be granted TDIU.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for initial disability ratings in excess of 20 percent for left and right lower extremity radiculopathy (sciatic nerve) due to inadequate examination findings.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his low back disability and right lower extremity sciatic radulopathy and diabetic peripheral neuropathy due to additional examinations being required.

The Veteran's lumbar spine degenerative disc disease with compression fractures and lumbar facet arthropathy, right lower extremity radiculopathy, and left lower extremity radiculopathy are each rated at 20 percent. The appeal is granted for these conditions.

The Veteran's radiculopathy conditions have been granted increased ratings, with some conditions receiving the maximum available rating of 40 percent.

An earlier effective date of July 22, 2013, but no earlier, for the award of service connection for right lower extremity radiculopathy and assignment of a 10 percent rating is granted.,A disability rating in excess of 10 percent for service-connected radiculopathy of the right lower extremity is denied.,From December 12, 2023, a 20 percent disability rating for service-connected radiculopathy of the left lower extremity is granted.