Radiculopathy & sciatica decisions — 2026

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further development regarding separate disability ratings for peripheral neuropathy of the lower and upper extremities, as well as an increased rating for bilateral upper extremity peripheral neuropathy.

The Veteran's appeals for various conditions and ratings have been dismissed due to the Veteran's withdrawal of his appeal prior to a decision being made.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection have been granted. The left and right lower extremity diabetic neuropathy conditions are rated at 30 percent, effective January 29, 2025. Service connection for OSA is also granted.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is granted due to his service-connected degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine and associated right lower extremity radiculopathy, which precludes him from obtaining or maintaining substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's cause of death was listed as cardiac arrest, which is not service connected. The Board found no evidence linking the Veteran's service-connected PTSD or other conditions to his obesity and subsequent diabetes mellitus type II and coronary artery disease.

The Veteran's claim for special monthly compensation based on loss of use of the feet has been denied. The claims for aid and attendance due to PTSD, voiding dysfunction, secondary to prostate cancer with radiation burn causing internal bleeding, asthma, and bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy have been remanded. The need for a higher level of care claim has also been remanded.

The Board dismissed the appeals for service connection for various lower extremity radiculopathy conditions as they were granted in a previous decision, and there are no remaining allegations of error to address.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have rendered him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation, leading to the grant of a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU).

The Veteran's bilateral knee disabilities, including chondromalacia with degenerative joint disease and instability, are rated at the maximum allowable under current VA regulations.,Separate ratings of 10 percent each have been granted for left and right knee instability.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for right hip arthritis is being remanded to obtain a new medical opinion regarding the nature and etiology of his left hip condition.

The Board has granted service connection for cervical strain with spinal fusion and spinal stenosis, degenerative disc disease, arthritis, scoliosis, intervertebral disc syndrome, and spondylosis with laminectomy, bilateral upper extremity radiculopathy, and bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy. The claims are based on direct service connection.

The Veteran's left lower extremity sciatic radiculopathy is currently rated at 20 percent, the maximum schedular rating available for moderate incomplete paralysis of the sciatic nerve. The Board has found that this level of impairment best describes the Veteran's condition throughout the appeal period.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability and lower extremity radiculopathy are granted as secondary to his service-connected right and left knee disabilities.

The Veteran is granted an effective date of April 29, 2008 for the assignment of a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) and eligibility to Dependents' Educational Assistance (DEA). The Board found that his service-connected disabilities rendered him unable to maintain substantially gainful employment since April 29, 2008.

The Veteran's lumbosacral strain and left lower extremity radiculopathy have been granted increased evaluations, with the lumbosacral strain receiving a 20 percent evaluation and the radiculopathy also receiving a 20 percent evaluation.

The Board has dismissed the appeal regarding service connection for right ear hearing loss due to the Veteran's withdrawal of the issue. The claims of increased ratings for bilateral radiculopathy and TDIU prior to October 20, 2025 are remanded.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis has been withdrawn. The right lower extremity radiculopathy claim is granted, and the disorder of the penis claim is denied. A 70 percent rating for a psychiatric disability is granted.

The Veteran's bilateral lower extremity sciatic nerve radiculopathy is productive of moderately severe incomplete paralysis, with symptoms including diminished muscle strength and hypoactive reflexes. The Board has granted initial ratings of 40 percent for both the right and left lower extremities.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have resulted in functional impairment sufficient to render him unable to obtain or maintain substantially gainful employment consistent with his education and prior experience throughout the period on appeal.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied as there is no evidence of a separate disability or symptom that was incurred in or aggravated by active military service.