Radiculopathy & sciatica decisions — 2026

The Veteran's claim for effective dates of service connection for radiculopathy of the right and left lower extremities is granted as of August 4, 2023.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for left and right lower extremity radiculopathy conditions due to a duty to assist error in the development of these claims prior to the decision on appeal.

The Board dismissed the Veteran's appeals because they were not filed within one year of the rating decisions, and no good cause was shown for the delay.

The Veteran is granted a TDIU based on his service-connected disabilities.,An effective date of March 26, 2023 for the 40 percent evaluation for degenerative disc disease and lumbosacral strain has been granted.,An earlier effective date than April 17, 2024 for the 50 percent evaluation for temporomandibular joint dysfunction is denied.,The Veteran's lower extremity radiculopathy evaluations are all denied as they do not meet the criteria for a higher rating.,The Veteran's migraines are rated at their maximum schedular rating of 50 percent and no extraschedular evaluation has been granted.,The Veteran's left knee chondromalacia is also rated at its maximum schedular rating of 10 percent.

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's appeals for service connection on multiple conditions due to a docketing error and failure to respond within the required time frame.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for various radiculopathy conditions and a neck scar have been denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support higher ratings based on the current symptoms.

The Veteran's hair loss and some other conditions are granted service connection, while the right hand disability is denied. The Veteran also has a new rating for his low back condition.

The Veteran seeks an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). The Board finds that the appropriate effective date is March 8, 2022, as it was within one year of the Intent to File (ITF) received on March 8, 2022.,The Veteran seeks an earlier effective date for a 20% rating for lumbar spine degenerative arthritis with intervertebral disc syndrome. The Board finds that the appropriate effective date is March 8, 2021, as it was within one year of the Intent to File (ITF) received on March 8, 2022.,The Veteran seeks an earlier effective date for a 40% rating for radiculopathy of the right lower extremity (RLE). The Board finds that the appropriate effective date is March 8, 2021, as it was within one year of the Intent to File (ITF) received on March 8, 2022.,The Veteran seeks an earlier effective date for a 40% rating for radiculopathy of the left lower extremity (LLE). The Board finds that the appropriate effective date is March 8, 2021, as it was within one year of the Intent to File (ITF) received on March 8, 2022.

The Board denied requests for earlier effective dates for service connection of lumbar spine intervertebral disc syndrome, left lower extremity radiculopathy, right lower extremity radiculopathy, and right hand de Quervain's tenosynovitis.,The effective date for the grant of service connection was set at November 5, 2010.

The Veteran's claim for eligibility for specially adapted housing and special home adaptation grant was denied as he does not meet the criteria for a qualifying total service-connected disability rating or loss of use of lower extremities.

The Veteran's right upper extremity radiculopathy is now rated at 70 percent, and his left upper extremity radiculopathy is now rated at 60 percent.

The appeal for service connection for left and right knee disabilities is dismissed.,The appeal for service connection for tinnitus is granted.,The appeal for service connection for bilateral plantar fasciitis and thoracolumbar spine disability (including lumbosacral and thoracolumbar strain with radiculopathy of the bilateral lower extremities) is remanded.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for back condition and left lower extremity radiculopathy due to inadequate medical opinions in previous examinations.

The Veteran's bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy disability is remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions regarding the severity and functional impairment of his condition, without considering the ameliorative effects of medication.

The Veteran is granted eligibility for specially adapted housing and SMC at the O and R-1 rates effective September 29, 2018.,The Veteran's claim for a special home adaptation grant is dismissed as he is already eligible for specially adapted housing.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for a 20 percent rating for sciatica with radiculopathy of the right lower extremity was denied as it is not factually ascertainable that his disability increased in severity to warrant such a rating prior to April 11, 2023.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, left sciatica, and left upper extremity radiculopathy due to duty-to-assist errors prior to the February 2025 decision on appeal. The issues are inextricably intertwined with his pending back and neck disabilities.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for a back disability has been granted. The issue of TDIU is being remanded.

The Veteran's BLE radiculopathy and bilateral knee disabilities are granted, with a 10% disability rating for each condition.