Radiculopathy & sciatica decisions — 2026

Effective May 18, 2017, the Veteran received a 40 percent rating for right lower extremity radiculopathy.,Effective May 18, 2017, the Veteran also received a 40 percent rating for left lower extremity radiculopathy.,Effective December 2, 2005, an initial 70 percent rating was granted for major depressive disorder.

The Board has granted service connection for low back disability and bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy, as secondary to the now service-connected low back disability.

The Board denied service connection for recurrent carpal tunnel syndrome and upper extremity neurological disabilities, as well as knee disabilities, all claimed as the result of herbicide agent exposure. The diagnoses were not shown to have originated during active service or due to herbicide agent exposure.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including persistent depressive disorder with anxious distress, alcohol use disorder, right and left knee osteoarthritis, degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine, and radiculopathy of the right lower extremity, prevent him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation. The Board has granted his claim for TDIU.

The Veteran's service-connected diabetes mellitus type II, left and right lower extremity diabetic peripheral neuropathy disabilities have rendered him unemployable due to their significant functional effects on his ability to perform necessary work tasks.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings and initial disability ratings have been remanded due to inadequate VA examinations. The right knee, GERD, and left lower extremity radiculopathy cases require new evaluations by VA physicians.

The Veteran's appeal is dismissed because she already received the retroactive VA disability compensation benefits under the CRDP program that she sought for the period from October 2021 through February 2025.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions, including major depressive disorder and arthritis, have rendered him unable to engage in his previous job as an equipment operator. The Board has granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU).

The Veteran's appeals for effective dates earlier than July 25, 2024, for various service-connected disabilities have been dismissed due to the Veteran's withdrawal of his appeals.

The Veteran's sciatic nerve radiculopathy of the left and right lower extremities has been granted a 20% rating, effective August 21, 2024.

The Veteran's rectal prolapse is granted an initial rating of 50 percent. The claims for service connection for right lower extremity radicular pain, left lower extremity radicular pain, hemorrhoids, obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), dry eyes, generalized anxiety disorder, obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD), depressive disorder, alcohol use disorder, and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) are denied.

The Veteran's degenerative arthritis of the spine is granted service connection. The claims for hyperlipidemia, lower left and right radiculopathy, heart issues (likely including atrial fibrillation), hypertension, left knee disability, and right knee disability are all remanded due to insufficient evidence.

The Veteran withdrew all pending appeals, including those for increased ratings and service connection claims.

The Board denied the Veteran's requests for earlier effective dates for service connection grants of limitation of right and left hip abduction, as well as radiculopathy of the right and left lower extremities. The effective date remains August 20, 2024.

The Veteran's appeal for higher initial staged ratings for degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine and left lower extremity radiculopathy, as well as an earlier effective date for service connection for left lower extremity radiculopathy, has been dismissed due to his withdrawal.

The Board has granted service connection for a right knee strain. The cases of cervical spine condition, left upper extremity nerve condition, left lower extremity condition (radiculopathy), right shoulder condition, and left shoulder condition are remanded for further development.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional examinations and to obtain VA outpatient treatment records. The claims for increased ratings and earlier effective dates are also being remanded.

The Veteran's claim for an automobile or other conveyance and adaptive equipment allowance is remanded due to unclear functional loss in his lower extremities resulting from service-connected disabilities. The Board finds a pre-decisional duty to assist error occurred by failing to schedule the Veteran for a VA examination.

The Veteran's lumbar spine degenerative arthritis is rated at 20 percent, which is the maximum schedular rating available.,The Veteran's left lower extremity radiculopathy is currently rated at 10 percent.

The Board has determined that new and relevant evidence has been received to warrant readjudication of the Veteran's claims for higher ratings in several service-connected conditions. The issues are being remanded for further development, including additional examinations.