Radiculopathy & sciatica decisions — 2026

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to a duty-to-assist error, specifically regarding the failure to notify the Veteran of records not received from Dr. Anastasia and Monmouth Medical Center.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for right and left lower extremity sciatic nerve radiculopathy have been granted with effective dates of June 4, 2019. The Board has dismissed the appeal due to the grant of these claims during the pendency of this appeal.

The Veteran's lumbar spine condition was granted service connection effective November 1, 2019.,An initial rating of 20 percent for the lumbar spine condition is granted.

The Veteran's application for PCAFC benefits was remanded due to a legal error in the initial decision, as her other service-connected conditions also required personal care services. The Board found that the medical opinion did not adequately address these additional conditions.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is granted as he meets the schedular criteria for TDIU due to his service-connected disabilities, and his inability to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's central vestibular syndrome, lumbar spine disability, and left lower radiculopathy have been granted with respective ratings. The effective date for the service connection of these conditions is set at October 2, 2012.,A higher initial rating of 30 percent has been granted for the Veteran's central vestibular syndrome, reflecting his unsteadiness and dizziness issues.,The Veteran has been granted TDIU based on his service-connected disabilities, indicating that these conditions make it impossible for him to secure or maintain substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including his spine and radiculopathy conditions, have prevented him from securing or maintaining substantially gainful employment. The Board has granted TDIU.

The appeal for an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia (AML) is dismissed. A total disability rating due to individual unemployability (TDIU) from July 6, 2015 is granted. An effective date of July 6, 2015, but no earlier, for basic eligibility to Dependents' Educational Assistance based on permanent and total disability status is granted. A special monthly compensation (SMC) at the statutory housebound rate from July 6, 2015 is granted.

The Veteran's cervical spine condition, lumbar spine condition, right lower extremity radiculopathy, left lower extremity radiculopathy, right upper extremity radiculopathy and right knee condition are all granted. The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is denied.

The Veteran is granted special monthly compensation based on aid and attendance for the period of February 27, 2014, to January 14, 2019, and from September 1, 2020.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, lumbar spine disability, and bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy, have rendered him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment. The Board finds that the VA examination provided in July 2024 is internally inconsistent and requires further clarification.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability, right and left lower extremity radiculopathies are granted as service-connected.,Service connection for the claimed conditions is established based on direct evidence of a nexus between the current disabilities and active service.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection for right and left lower extremity radiculopathy, as well as his claim for TDIU, have been dismissed due to the Veteran withdrawing his appeals.

The Veteran's service-connected other specified depressive disorder with anxious distress is granted an effective date of August 19, 2016. Effective January 31, 2018, the Veteran's TDIU claim for lumbar strain is granted.

The Veteran's disability ratings for low back, tinnitus, and GERD were reduced to 20%, but the rating for right lower extremity radiculopathy was granted. The reduction in the low back rating is upheld.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further development, including obtaining service treatment records and medical opinions regarding his sleep apnea and lumbar spine disability.

The Veteran's cervical spine disabilities, including degenerative arthritis and intervertebral disc syndrome (IVDS), are related to her active duty service.,The Veteran's bilateral upper extremity radiculopathy is the result of her now service-connected cervical spine disabilities. The Veteran's migraine headaches are being remanded for further evaluation.

The Veteran's right upper extremity cervical radiculopathy is now rated at 40 percent, effective March 6, 2021. The left upper extremity cervical radiculopathy remains at a 20 percent rating.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for hearing loss, tinnitus, and sleep apnea on a secondary basis were denied. The Veteran was granted an initial 10 percent rating for left lower extremity radiculopathy of the sciatic nerve. Claims for increased ratings for lumbar spine pain, left shoulder tendinitis (from August 9, 2023), left wrist sprain, and right knee patellofemoral syndrome were denied.

The Board has dismissed all issues related to service connection and rating for various conditions, including migraines, traumatic brain injury, tinnitus, facial scarring, back disability, radiculopathy of the lower extremities, acne, chest and back scars, and pseudofolliculitis barbae. The Veteran withdrew his appeal prior to a decision being made.