Radiculopathy & sciatica decisions — 2026

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn by his attorney, and the Board is dismissing the case.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him in need of regular aid and attendance due to his back and associated radiculopathy disabilities, which require assistance with activities such as bathing, dressing, transferring, housekeeping, and meal preparation.

The Veteran's left lower extremity radiculopathy was granted a 20 percent evaluation effective March 7, 2023. The symptoms were found to be moderate incomplete paralysis.

The Veteran's service-connected atrial fibrillation and hypertension are not rated higher than the current levels, with no compensable rating for hypertension.,The Veteran does not meet the criteria for TDIU prior to December 27, 2023 due to multiple service-connected disabilities. From that date, he has a combined disability rating of 100% but does not have a single service-connected disability precluding him from obtaining and maintaining gainful employment.

The appeals regarding service connection for bilateral hearing loss, right foot plantar fasciitis, erectile dysfunction, hypertension, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), left ankle sprain, right shoulder arthritis, degenerative arthritis of the thoracolumbar spine, radiculopathy of the left lower extremity, and left knee condition are dismissed.,The appeals regarding service connection for right shoulder arthritis and right knee condition are granted.

The Veteran's service-connected lumbar spine and bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy disabilities prevented him from securing or following substantially gainful employment as of May 24, 2010.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection and increased ratings were dismissed due to the Veteran withdrawing his claims during a Board hearing.,The Veteran was granted service connection for left and right hip disabilities, as well as left and right knee disabilities.

The Veteran's service connection claim for allergic rhinitis is granted. The Board finds that the Veteran's current allergic rhinitis is related to his active service and grants service connection.

The Veteran's left and right lower extremity sciatic nerve radiculopathies have been granted increased disability ratings of 40 percent each.,The Veteran's left and right lower extremity femoral nerve radiculopathies have been granted increased disability ratings of 30 percent each.

An effective date of July 7, 2021, but no earlier, is granted for the award of service connection for intervertebral disc syndrome and degenerative arthritis.,The effective dates for left lower extremity sciatic nerve radiculopathy and right lower extremity sciatic nerve radiculopathy are denied as they arose on May 1, 2024.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities resulted in, at minimum, the effective loss of use of one foot. The criteria for establishing eligibility for financial assistance in the purchase of an automobile and adaptive equipment have been met.

The Veteran's depressive disorder with anxious distress is being remanded for a more detailed opinion regarding whether it is at least as likely as not aggravated by his service-connected lumbar spine condition and bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a thoracolumbar spine disorder, finding that his current diagnoses were not related to his active service or any chronic condition shown in service. The Board concluded that the Veteran's back pain did not start during service and was not continuous since then.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's cervical spine disability is secondary to his service-connected lumbar spine disability, and thus grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for radiculopathy of the bilateral lower extremities, femoral, is granted with an effective date of November 16, 2021. The claims for increased evaluations are remanded due to a lack of medical evidence addressing the impact of medication on the severity of the lumbosacral strain, intervertebral disc syndrome.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy associated with lumbar spine disability was granted, effective August 16, 2023. The Board found that the evidence did not support ratings in excess of 10 percent for left and right lower extremity radiculopathy.

The Veteran's service connection for right lower extremity sciatic and femoral radiculopathy, as well as lumbosacral strain has been granted with an effective date of March 31, 2020.

The Board denied service connection for a right hip condition and denied effective dates prior to August 9, 2024, for lumbosacral strain with degenerative arthritis, intervertebral disc syndrome and spinal stenosis, as well as radiculopathy of the left and right lower extremities.,The Board also denied service connection for a right hip condition. The Veteran's current effective date for service connection is consistent with when she first received treatment for her back issues.

The Veteran's claims for increased evaluations of Degenerative Disc Disease, bilateral lower extremity femoral nerve radiculopathy, and bilateral lower extremity sciatic nerve radiculopathy have been granted effective November 1, 2021.,Additionally, the Veteran's claim for a TDIU has also been granted effective January 1, 2022.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were denied. The left anterior medial knee scar, left knee limitation of flexion, left knee patellar instability, and left knee removal of semilunar cartilage are all rated at the minimum 10 percent level due to painful motion. GERD is not manifested by a documented history of esophageal stricture(s) that requires daily medications to control dysphagia otherwise asymptomatic. The Veteran's radiculopathies are both rated at the maximum 20 percent level.