Radiculopathy & sciatica decisions — 2026

The Board denied the Veteran's requests for an earlier effective date for TDIU and DEA benefits, finding that no formal or informal claim was received prior to May 22, 2015. The Veteran is in receipt of a TDIU effective from May 22, 2015.

The Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, migraines, and hypertension have been denied. The claim for sciatica nerve pain is remanded.,The Veteran's anxiety disorder claim is also remanded.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date prior to August 31, 2017, for the award of service connection for lumbosacral strain (back disorder) was denied as a matter of law.,Claims for left lower extremity radiculopathy and right lower extremity radiculopathy were also denied with effective dates set at July 12, 2021.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for migraine headaches, as secondary to tinnitus, is granted. The claims for service connection for hearing loss disability and a disability manifested by shortness of breath other than chronic sinusitis and allergic rhinitis are denied. The claims for service connection for an intestinal disability (diverticulitis), fatigue, hypertension, neck disability, right upper extremity radiculopathy, left upper extremity radiculopathy, right shoulder disability, left shoulder disability, upper and lower back disability, right lower extremity radiculopathy, left lower extremity radiculopathy, right hip disability, left hip disability, right foot pain, left foot pain, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), and an acquired psychiatric disorder are all denied.

The Veteran withdrew their appeals for all issues related to sciatic nerve peripheral neuropathy and peripheral neuropathy neuralgia in both lower extremities, leaving only femoral nerve peripheral neuropathy issues unresolved.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for right knee disability has been dismissed due to failure to timely perfect an appeal.,The Veteran's appeal for a rating more than 40 percent for low back disability has been denied.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings related to left lower extremity radiculopathy, right lower extremity radiculopathy, left upper extremity radiculopathy, and right upper extremity radiculopathy have been denied.,The most recent VA examinations indicated moderate incomplete paralysis in the Veteran's affected extremities.

The Board denied earlier effective dates for service connection awards of peripheral neuropathy affecting various nerves, finding that the claims were not supported by new and material evidence.

The Veteran's burn scars are not compensable, as they cover less than the required area for a 10% rating.,Left lower extremity radiculopathy is not service-connected and may not be presumed to have been incurred during service.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for cervical spinal stenosis, right upper extremity cervical radiculopathy, and left upper extremity cervical radiculopathy due to new relevant evidence submitted by the Veteran.

The Board dismissed the appeal due to the Veteran's withdrawal of the appeal prior to a decision being made.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for service-connected right and left lower extremity radiculopathy are remanded due to pre-decisional duty to assist errors. The Board requests an adequate VA examination and seeks any outstanding records, including chiropractic care records.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection for right hand arthritis and left hand arthritis have been dismissed.,The Veteran's appeals for a higher rating for lumbar strain, radiculopathy of the left sciatic nerve, and radiculopathy of the right sciatic nerve have been remanded.

The Veteran's appeals for increased disability ratings for lumbar spine arthritis and right lower extremity sciatica have been dismissed due to the Veteran's withdrawal of his appeal.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 70 percent effective from December 30, 2020. A TDIU is granted as of December 30, 2020.

The Veteran's appeal has been dismissed as he withdrew his appeal prior to the Board making a decision.

The Veteran's appeal for a compensable disability rating for service-connected migraine headaches is remanded due to the need for further evaluation and consideration.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to a duty to assist error and inextricably intertwined issues. Specifically, a new VA medical opinion is needed regarding the etiology of the Veteran's cervical spine disability.

The Veteran's left lower extremity sciatic nerve radiculopathy was granted a disability rating of 40 percent, effective June 25, 2024. The decision found that the condition manifested with an incomplete paralysis of the sciatic nerve that was moderately severe.

The Board denied the appellant's request for direct payment of attorney fees based on past-due benefits awarded in an August 2024 rating decision, as the decision was not a result of a valid appeal and did not address all issues raised.