Radiculopathy & sciatica decisions — 2026

The Veteran withdrew all appeals regarding his service-connected conditions and related disability ratings, effective as of March 16, 2026.

The Veteran's appeal for an initial increased rating for tinnitus has been withdrawn and dismissed. The claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is denied as the Veteran does not have a disability for VA purposes.

The Board has remanded the issues of increased ratings for lumbar degenerative disc disease with IVDS and lumbosacral strain, left lower extremity sciatic radiculopathy, and right lower extremity sciatic radiculopathy due to insufficient evidence in the July 2024 VA examination.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection for various conditions have been withdrawn and are dismissed. Service connection has been granted for generalized anxiety disorder and major depressive disorder, but denied for other conditions.

The Veteran's service-connected lower back condition, bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy, and associated ratings are granted with effective dates of February 26, 2023.

The Veteran's initial ratings for left and right lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, sciatic nerve were increased to 40 percent each. The rating for arteriosclerotic heart disease was restored from 10 percent to 30 percent.

The Board has granted service connection for lumbar strain and lumbar intervertebral disc syndrome with left sciatica. The right lower extremity sciatica claim is remanded due to a duty-to-assist error.

The Veteran's service connection claims for degenerative disc disease, intervertebral disc syndrome, spinal stenosis, and bilateral lower extremity sciatica have been granted as they are related to his active duty service.

The Board has granted effective dates of January 4, 2024 for the service connection of left and right upper extremity radiculopathy as a complication or secondary to service-connected cervical degenerative disc disease with spinal stenosis and vertebral fracture.

The Veteran's service connection claims for various knee and back disabilities, as well as radiculopathy in the right lower extremity (RLE) and left lower extremity (LLE), have been granted. Service connection is also granted for a right hip disability secondary to his back disability.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for headaches and lumbar spine disability, as well as left and right lower extremity radiculopathy, were denied. The effective dates for these conditions are also denied.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's right upper extremity radiculopathy, finding that it is related to an in-service motor vehicle accident.

The Veteran's appeals for reductions in disability ratings were dismissed because the proposed reductions were not final decisions and did not include a hearing request.

The Veteran's low back disability is rated at 50 percent effective February 13, 2021. His left lower extremity sciatic nerve radiculopathy is rated at 80 percent from April 21, 2013 to February 12, 2021. The Veteran's TDIU claim has an earlier effective date of April 21, 2013.

The Veteran was granted service connection for migraine headaches effective August 10, 2022.,The Veteran was granted service connection for depressive disorder effective April 11, 2024.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for left lower extremity radiculopathy, which is secondary to her degenerative changes of the lumbar spine, has been remanded due to a duty-to-assist error. The Board found that VA did not obtain private medical records from Hiro Chiropractic and Springfield Family Physicians, who treated the Veteran during the period on appeal.

The Board has granted restoration of initial 40 percent ratings for right and left lower extremity sciatic radiculopathy, effective January 6, 2024. The appeal regarding service connection for erectile dysfunction is remanded.

The Veteran's service-connected traumatic arthritis of the spine with degenerative disc disease, IVDS, spinal stenosis, and disc herniation is rated at 40 percent. The effective date for this rating remains pending as it was granted in a September 2023 decision.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions, including his adjustment disorder and scarring of the head and neck due to acne and pseudofolliculitis barbae, have rendered him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment since November 30, 2012. Effective May 21, 2020, he was granted a TDIU.

The Board denied higher ratings for right and left lower extremity sciatic nerve neuropathy, finding the evidence did not show a factually ascertainable worsening of the disability during the one-year period prior to receipt of the claim.