Radiculopathy & sciatica decisions — 2026

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render her unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation, and the Board has granted entitlement to TDIU based on these conditions.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for SMC at the A&A rate was denied as his service-connected disabilities did not result in a need for regular aid and attendance.

The Veteran's back disability is rated at 10 percent, and his right and left lower extremity radiculopathy are each rated at 10 percent. The claims for increased ratings were denied.

The Board has denied service connection for radiculopathy of the left and right arms, as well as IBS. The Veteran's headaches are also not rated higher than noncompensable.

The Board has dismissed the appeal for an earlier effective date for evaluation of radiculopathy, left lower extremity. The Veteran's claim for individual unemployability is granted with an effective date of November 13, 2009.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations.,Service connection is also being remanded for various conditions, including dermatitis, allergic rhinitis, a psychiatric disorder, a right hip condition, sinusitis, a respiratory disorder, gastrointestinal issues, chronic fatigue syndrome, headaches, radiculopathy of the lower extremities, and other unspecified conditions.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection for left lower extremity sciatica, left foot disability, and URI have been dismissed due to the submission of a Notice of Disagreement (NOD) that identifies the correct issues. The appeal for bilateral hamstring disability is being remanded.

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's appeals for a compensable rating for service-connected erectile dysfunction, special monthly compensation based on loss of use of a creative organ, and ratings in excess of 10 percent for service-connected left and right lower extremity sciatic radiculopathy.

The Veteran's depressive disorder is granted service connection as secondary to his service-connected disabilities, including thoracic strain with degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine and sciatic radiculopathy.

The Veteran's increased ratings for bilateral lower extremity peripheral neuropathy affecting the sciatic nerve are granted, and he is also granted SMC at the (r)(1) rate.

The Veteran's application for PCAFC eligibility was denied due to the CEAT finding that he did not require personal care services based on his service-connected conditions. The Board has ordered remand to obtain an adequate medical opinion from the CEAT regarding the Veteran's need for personal care and supervision.

The Veteran's service connection claims for tinnitus, panic disorder, lumbar spine disability, right knee disability, left knee disability, and left lower extremity radiculopathy have been granted. The rating for major depressive disorder with generalized anxiety disorder has been denied.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities (TDIU) as he was attending school full time and his service-connected conditions did not preclude him from securing and following substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's left lower extremity radiculopathy is currently rated at a 20 percent disability evaluation, effective May 1, 2023.

The Board has granted an effective date of May 16, 2018 for the award of service connection for right lower extremity radiculopathy. The decision is based on the Veteran's lay assertions and medical records indicating that his symptoms were present prior to this date.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his service-connected radiculopathy, right lower extremity, is being remanded due to the inadequacy of the November 2019 VA DBQ and the need for an updated VA examination.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to a duty to assist error regarding the effects of medications on the appellant's radiculopathy of the sciatic nerve, right lower extremity (RLE). The claim will be reconsidered after obtaining an examination and medical opinion without considering the ameliorating effects of medication.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings have been denied. Effective dates prior to July 27, 2023, are not warranted as the issues were not reasonably raised before that date.

The Veteran's RLE radiculopathy was granted a 40 percent disability rating, effective from May 9, 2016.,The Veteran's LLE radiculopathy was granted a 20 percent disability rating, effective from May 9, 2016.

The Board has found that VA did not obtain all relevant Social Security Administration records, which may contain pertinent medical evidence. The case is therefore being remanded to allow for the retrieval of these records.